Home > Shaul Mofaz

Born in Iran, Mofaz immigrated in 1957 to Israel. Straight from high school he joined the IDF in 1966 and served in the Paratroop Brigade. He participated in the Six-Day War, Yom Kippur War, 1982 Lebanon War, and Operation Entebbe with the Paratroopers and Sayeret Matkal, an elite special forces unit.

Mofaz was then appointed an infantry brigade commander for the 1982 Lebanon War. Afterwards he attended the US Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico, VirginiaVirginia is one of the original 13 states of the United States that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution and is generally classified as part of the South. Its official name is the Commonwealth of Virginia it is one of four Commonwealth. On his return he was briefly appointed commander of the Officers School, before returning to active service as commander of the Paratroop Brigade in 19861986 is a common year starting on Wednesday. Events January January 1 Spain and Portugal enter the European Community January 1 Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands and is separated from the Netherlands Antilles. January 9 After losing a pa.

Shaul Mofaz served in a series of senior military posts, having been promoted to the rank of Brigadier General ( 19881988 is a leap year starting on Friday (click on link for calendar). Events January January 2 Georgia celebrates its bicentennial statehood. January 9 Connecticut celebrates its bicentennial statehood. January 26 Australia celebrates its bicentennial day.). In 1993 he was made commander of the IDF forces in the West Bank. In 19941994 is a common year starting on Saturday, and was designated the International year of the Family''. Events January events January 1 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) goes into effect January 6 Nancy Kerrigan is clubbed on the right leg by an he was promoted to Major General, commanding the Southern Corps. His rapid rise continued, in 19971997 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year of the Reef''. Events January January 3 NBC's Today Show Bryant Gumbel signs off for the last time January 8 Mister Rogers receives a star on t Mofaz was appointed Deputy Chief of the General Staff and in 19981998 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year of the Ocean''. Events January January 1998 A massive ice storm, caused by El Nino, strikes New England, southern Ontario and Quebec, resulting he was appointed Chief of the General Staff.

His term of Chief of Staff was noted for financial and structural reforms of the Israeli Army. But the most significant event in his tenure was the eruption of the Second Intifada. The tough tactics undertaken by Mofaz drew widespread concern from the international community but were appriciated by the Israeli public as firm response against terror. Controversy erupted over the offensive in Jenin, intermittent raids in the Gaza Strip, and the continued isolation of Yasser Arafat.

In Israel, Mofaz conduct as Chief of Staff was considered positive. He sought the wave of violence coming early as 1999 and prepared the IDF for intense guerilla warfare in the territories. He fortified posts at the Gaza Strip and due to advance MOUT tactics and intelligent use of bulldozers he managed to keep IDF casualties low. However, he drew criticism for left groups because of the harsh methods he had undertaken (such as house demolitions).

In 2002 Shaul Mofaz was appointed defense minister after a government crisis by Ariel Sharon.

After retiering from the IDF, Mofaz joined the Likud party. Mofaz is a hardliner, although he supports an agreement with the Palestinians, he determined to "liqudize" Arafat and willing to make no compromise in the war against terrorist groups such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. Due to his military experience, Mofaz believes the IDF can stop Palestinian terrorism.