Eitan, Rafael (Rafael EITAN)

(genus. 11.1.1929)
Among the facts biography Rafulya There is a wonderful time. Once he was a sniper took aim at President Yasser Arafat, seen in the sight of his head, wrapped in the famous kufiyu. General was was enough to nod. He did not do that, although considered Arafat an enemy of Israel and the Jews. But at this moment Israel pledged not to destroy the Palestinians fleeing Beirut, and as a person Raful State could not violate obligations.
- I was born because my parents were ... too poor - admitted in an interview, Rafael Eitan, and explained: - Four children were born before me, and my father was not able to provide them even necessary. So my parents decided to terminate my existence even in the mother's womb. But the need was so great that the father could not get two lire to pay doctor
. Later, parents joked:
. - This baby cost us two lire ...
. The future chief of staff, whom the Israelis are still called Raful, was born in 'moshav' (cooperative agricultural settlements, combining elements of collective and private economy) Tel Adach
. Date of birth was disputed, until the father and the village chief did not agree: 11 January 1929.
His parents - Elijah and Miriam Kaminsky Orlov came to Palestine from Russia in 1904 and settled in the village of Petach Tikva. Mother, according to Rafulya was 'calm and strong woman'.
- A family legend, but it should be taken not with full confidence, - Eitan told reporters - that one of the ancestors of the mother was a bodyguard for Russian Tsar Nicholas I.
Still, the general authority for the future has always been a father. In Defiance temper, he was sentenced by the Turkish authorities for the death penalty, but fled from Palestine. Back he came back with the troops of the British General Allenby in the midst of the First World War.
- For many years, my father shared with me experiences while serving in the British army - later recalled Eitan. - He spoke about composure, courage and fearlessness. Whenever we had difficulties, he liked to say: 'More often in life - you are alone in the wilderness. Nobody will come to you for help. You should rely only on themselves, only for his strength. You must decide yourself ... '
According Rafulya father left a deep imprint on his personality, how to deal, content with little, be patient, and from no one to depend. He tried to lay the foundation world is the only son and the main thing: the man struggling and intractable weaknesses - a master of his fate, who never raises his hands to surrender. In six years he took his son in night guarding Tel Adashima, taught him to ride, shoot a gun, to determine traces of animals.
Father Eitan was a true farmer. He was planting trees, caring for animals, worked with wood and metal. He brought the plane from Russia, inherited from his grandfather, a retired general who sometimes works today.
In 16 years Raful joined the Palmach (Plugot mahats) - drums company Haganah (the military organization of Jewish settlers in Palestine). War of Independence (both in Israel called the first Arab-Israeli war of 1948) began the fourth battalion sergeant Harel. Remembers colleagues, 'Raful had iron nerves, no one could compete with him in any courage or the stamina. "
In 1949 the war ended, Eitan was discharged and returned to Tel Adach. He was attracted to the earth, and he delightedly began to work. But soon realized that a mistake: in the army he was drawn more and he returned.
However, before going back, he caught 'air-virus' - wanted to become a pilot. Cousin future general - Ada, who served as liaison to the Air Base Squadron at Ramat David, introduced him to the commander Ezer Weizman. The first flight was made as a passenger. And the pilot was ordered to 'shake it good in the air'.
The summer of 1951 Raful returned to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as an operational officer of the regiment.
After the officers' course, he was assigned to the regiment of paratroopers, commanded by Lt. Col. Ariel Sharon. He was appointed commander of the company. It was then that he had and has a special relationship with the soldiers that have prevailed for over three decades. Eitan never used any mess or any other privileges. He ate with his men, sleeping on the ground. And most importantly - in the battle behind them are not hiding.
At the same time, continuing to command a company, he found free time to study the theory and practice of flight. But at the same time he was not satisfied. He was struck by a new 'virus' - gliding, which' has captivated him completely. "
In January 1952 Eytan married to Miriam, whose family immigrated from Germany. But they met when she was ... six and a half years, and he eight, as lived in a 'moshav'.
A year later he completed courses in the battalion commanders and was appointed company commander commandos reservists. In early 1955 he was sent for military training.
At the end of that year he was severely wounded in the abdomen during the operation 'Kinneret' on the Golan Heights. In order returned only two months and was promoted to Major. By the time the army was reorganized. Sharon took command of a division, and the old regiment of paratroopers led by Eitan.
At this time in Israel began to prepare a team to participate in international competitions in skydiving, that took place in the USSR. In July 1956 he composed the Israeli team went to Moscow. Raful childhood could speak a little in Russian, but after three weeks of stay in Russia, he spoke freely. In a tournament, the Israelis occupied the last place.
In the Sinai Campaign in 1956 (Operation "Kadesh") Eitan paratroopers were dropped in the enemy rear. They seized the area located east of the Mitla Pass, cut the communication lines of the enemy and held the position of 24 hours - until the main Israeli forces.
In 1958 he was a one-year course of commanders and staff officers. And in 1960 he was sent to the U.S. - in the college of commanders and staff officers of marines. Then Eitan had been a lieutenant colonel
- I had a great desire to learn - he told me later. - The desire to further increased after training at military courses and in Tel-Aviv University. Soon I was enrolled in the open an academy of national security.
After the Academy in May 1964, Eitan was appointed commander of the combat paratrooper regiment. On his shoulders bore the brunt of the fight against Arab terror.
On the fourth day of the war in June 1967, when the brigade Eitan reached the approaches to the Suez Canal, a sniper bullet had pierced his skull and lodged in two millimeters from the brain. When he regained consciousness, he saw on the bedside table, five small fragments.
- Where these oskolkiN asked the doctor. - They are not from the last injury.
- They sit in my head with a War of Independence, said Raful and explained: - they just did not have time to extract.
After healing, he was appointed commander of the units guarding the Jordan basin. In recognition of Eitan, it was one of the most difficult periods in its military biography. It was necessary at all times remain with the entities in ambush or pursuit. Few hours to sleep. Sometimes it's reached the point of exhaustion, to the extreme limit of human capabilities.
. In July 1968 Eitan was appointed 'katshara' (abbreviation word 'Ktsin tsanhanim Rashi' - the chief officer of amphibious troops) - a key post in the Israel Defense Forces)
. In this position, he dealt primarily with two problems: 'reprisal operations' at the Egyptian border and strengthen the status of airborne and infantry troops.
A year later, Eitan saw another war, the other soldiers, a different way of life. The fact that Israel has for many years helped the Kurdish rebels in their fight for independence in Iraq. They supplied weapons, sending instructors, who were almost all paratroopers. Eitan has repeatedly had to go there to study the conditions on the ground fighting in this unusual area.
. In mid 1972, the then Chief of Staff Haim Bar-Lev suggested Eitan complete a military career.
. - All Raful enough, - he said
. - You have general. You'll get a general's pension.
However, over time Bar-Lev himself resigned, and Eitan was appointed commander of the division of the Northern Military District of reservists. Simultaneously, he continued his studies at the Faculty of Political Science at Haifa University.
Yom Kippur War, which began Oct. 6, 1973, found Rafulya on the northern front. Syrians launched a decisive attack on the third day of the war, when introduced into the battle all his armored reserves. In fact, the entire Syrian army was thrown into the battle for the Golan Heights. The Syrians attacked day and night, using night-vision. Israeli armored forces were not then so sophisticated equipment.
Yet the battle was won on the Golan. More precisely - won the whole war.
At the end of hostilities Eitan was appointed commander of the Northern District. He remained in this position for three years and was appointed head of Aman (military intelligence).
It was then that he began thinking about a career in politics. However, in April 1978 he was appointed Chief of General Staff - the highest command position in Israel, and given the rank of lieutenant general.
At this time, once again come to the fore the struggle against Palestinian terror, rooted in Lebanon. Political and military leadership began to develop a secret operation 'Peace for Galilee'. The plan of operations developed Eitan and its Operations Division.
This war, to be exact - admitted mistakes, caused a split in Israeli society. Serious charges were brought against Prime Minister Menachem Begin, and even more difficult - against Defense Minister Ariel Sharon. What kasaetya Rafulya, all acknowledged that he carried out the operation "Peace for Galilee 'a high professional level.
. Eitan served chief of staff under the leadership of four successive defense ministers - Ezer Weizman, Menachem Begin, Ariel Sharon and Moshe Arens
. Two of them were civilian, two in the past (Weitzman and Sharon) - generals, both dreaming to occupy the post of Chief of General Staff and the two have not met this. Both believed that the barrier to this post were their political views.
- I believe - said Eitan, - that the government and the Chief of General Staff, in no case be of different political opinion and contradictions in matters of principle. In a democracy the government chooses the chief of staff, and not vice versa. His duty to unquestioningly follow the instructions of the government if he failed to prove the correctness of its approach to a particular decision.
April 19, 1983 Raful resigned, leaving the IDF 37 years of life. But he, by his own admission, there was no feeling that he is facing a new stage of life. He could have another year to remain in the army, receive full salary, to go on a desktop machine. He did not want. He returned to Tel Adach and began working in his carpentry workshop.
However, with the first day of his being invited to lecture at schools, houses of culture, residential areas, in towns and urban settlements. He had no spokesperson, no head office, no secretary. All the invitations he replied himself.
Autumn 1983 Raful organized and led a movement 'Tzomet' (translated from the Hebrew - 'Crossroads', 'Crossroads'). It began to gain momentum, it did about five thousand. Movement articulate goals: poselenchestvo, education, Aliyah (repatriation), work - as the supreme value, uncompromising struggle for 'Eretz Yisrael' ( 'Land of Israel' in biblical borders).
. When the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) of the tenth convocation was dissolved, it was necessary to decide how to go to the polls - in one stroke 'Tzomet' or in alliance with other parties
. After discussion and hesitation Eitan and his followers united with the party 'Thiya' ( 'Rebirth'). The retired general was elected to the Knesset the 11 th convocation and went into the committee on state control, international affairs and defense.
An interesting fact: when he came to the Knesset, Raful refused to pay half of the parliamentary. When discovered, that there is a flagpole, which could be raised the national flag, he was on the same day he locked himself in his carpentry workshop and made a flagpole.
In the elections of 1988 'Tzomet' received two mandates. In the elections of 1992 - eight. 'General Eitan and the Seven Dwarfs' - excelled Israeli journalists.
However, in 1994, clearly delineated crisis movement 'Tzomet'. It began with the fact that the party was revealed in the budget deficit in more than 200 thousand dollars. And the incredible happened - three of the seven 'dwarves' accused general in the use of party funds for personal needs.
Turned out that Raful donated to a charitable society 'Ahava' ( 'Love') 25 thousand 'green'. It turned out that the director of this society is a kind of Ofra Meirson - mistress of General. He built lady luxury mansion in the heart of Tel Adach, without making distinctions between his own savings and party funds.
As a result, the faction 'Tzomet' split in the Knesset. Three of the seven 'dwarves' away from Rafulya, taking the mandate from the voters.
In the 1996 elections Movement 'Tzomet' entered into a bloc with Likud and 'Gesher'. The government of Benjamin Netanyahu Eitan received the portfolio of Minister of Agriculture.
Today, departing from the cases, the retired general does not like to talk about the current situation. He was accustomed to act. It is not lost faith in the ideas of Zionism, he was one of those who continue to stubbornly prove their viability on all fronts - political, economic, even pedagogical.
- I believe that Zionism is alive, it keeps the Jewish state. I think the service in the IDF particularly important for every Jewish boy or a Jewish girl. I think we have much more to tell children about our history, teach them to love the land, a country where they live. Only a true national ideals, the establishment of a strong country that can fight for them - a guarantee of our security. With a strong state talk differently.
Eitan still believes that peace is unattainable by Shimon Peres. Just a few steps, he says, and we prizhmut to the wall.
- We did Sinai - he recalls - but now we have only our small country - the Land of Israel. We can not risk it.
He was opposed to any compromise over Jerusalem, against the withdrawal from the Golan Heights and the establishment of a Palestinian state.
- We were forced to give the Palestinians of Hebron, though his soul was sick, when we took this decision. However, we must firmly demand that the Palestinians fulfill their obligations data. We are not obliged to give the territory a piece of paper, which is nothing for the Palestinians does not.
Among the facts biography Rafulya There is a wonderful time. Once he was a sniper took aim at President Yasser Arafat, seen in the sight of his head, wrapped in the famous kufiyu. General was was enough to nod. He did not do that, although considered Arafat an enemy of Israel and the Jews. But at this moment Israel pledged not to destroy the Palestinians fleeing Beirut, and as a person Raful State could not violate obligations.
He has always preferred to hire people who have served in the IDF. When he was minister of ecology, taking the post of secretary, the girl who had just served in the army, he asked one question:
- In what troops sluzhilaN
- The landing - was the answer.
- Suitable.
Yet it is fair to say that a military career Rafulya was strewn with roses. Its rustic appearance misled. The slowness and taciturnity suspect forced to slow reaction. Years passed before people learned to understand that for a peasant look and avarice of the word lies uncommon intelligence.
- I have traveled a long way of life - he wrote in his book 'Story of a soldier'. - All of it is devoted to my homeland and I am not ashamed of the bombast of the words. I am proud of it. I gave everything I could, without thinking about the reward ...
Author: Konstantin Kapitonov