Mordechai Bar-On ( he, מרדכי בר-און, 26 December 1928 – 7 March 2021) was an Israeli historian, Chief Education Officer of the

Israel Defense Forces The Israel Defense Forces (IDF; he, צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל , ), alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym (), is the national military of the Israel, State of Israel. It consists of three servic ...

and politician, serving as a member of the

Knesset The Knesset ( he, הַכְּנֶסֶת ; "gathering" or "assembly") is the unicameral legislature of Israel. As the supreme state body, the Knesset is sovereign and thus has complete control of the entirety of the Israeli government (with ...

for Ratz from 1984 to 1986.

Biography

Born in

Tel Aviv Tel Aviv-Yafo ( he, תֵּל־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ, translit=Tēl-ʾĀvīv-Yāfō ; ar, تَلّ أَبِيب – يَافَا, translit=Tall ʾAbīb-Yāfā, links=no), often referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the G ...

during the Mandate era, Bar-On was a member of the IDF's first officer training course in 1948. He became a platoon commander and company commander in the

Givati Brigade The 84th "Givati" Brigade ( he, חֲטִיבַת גִּבְעָתִי, , "Hill Brigade" or "Highland Brigade") is an Israel Defense Forces infantry brigade. Until 2005, the Brigade used to be stationed within the Gaza Strip and primarily perf ...

, and in 1954 established the Academic Pool. The following year he became head of the History Department of the

General Staff A military staff or general staff (also referred to as army staff, navy staff, or air staff within the individual services) is a group of officers, enlisted and civilian staff who serve the commander of a division or other large military un ...

, before being appointed head of the Chief of Staff's bureau in 1958. From 1961 until 1963 he served as the deputy Chief Education Officer in the

Education and Youth Corps The Israeli Education and Youth Corps ( he, חיל החינוך והנוער, ''Heil HaHinuh VeHaNo'ar'') is the IDF Manpower Directorate corps responsible for the education of soldiers and commanders in Israel's military. It is designed to instruc ...

, before becoming its head in 1963. He was demobilized in 1968. After leaving the IDF, he worked for the

Jewish Agency for Israel The Jewish Agency for Israel ( he, הסוכנות היהודית לארץ ישראל, translit=HaSochnut HaYehudit L'Eretz Yisra'el) formerly known as The Jewish Agency for Palestine, is the largest Jewish non-profit organization in the world. ...

, heading its Youth and Pioneering Department until 1977. Bar-On later became one of the leaders of the

Peace Now Peace Now ( he, שלום עכשיו ''Shalom Achshav'', ) is a non-governmental organization, liberal advocacy and activist group in Israel with the aim of promoting a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Objectives/position ...

movement, and was elected to the

1984 Events January * January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888. * January 7 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeast A ...

on the Ratz list. However, he resigned from the Knesset on 26 November 1986, and was replaced by

David Zucker David Samuel Zucker (born October 16, 1947) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. Associated mostly with parody comedies, Zucker is recognized as the director and writer of the critically successful 1980 film ''Airplane!'' ...

. He died in March 2021.Mordechai Bar-On
Knesset

Books

Books Bar-On authored include: * ''The Gates of Gaza: Israel’s Road to Suez and Back, 1955–1957'' (1994) * ''In Pursuit of Peace: A History of the Israeli Peace Movement'' (1996) * ''Never-ending Conflict: Israeli Military History'' (2004) * ''Moshe Dayan: Israel's Controversial Hero'' (2012)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bar-On, Mordechai 1928 births Politicians from Tel Aviv Jews in Mandatory Palestine Israeli anti-war activists Israeli soldiers Heads of the Jewish Agency for Israel Hebrew University of Jerusalem alumni School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University alumni Members of the 11th Knesset (1984–1988) Ratz (political party) politicians 2021 deaths