Meir Zorea: Encyclopedia II - Meir Zorea - Participation in the Israeli military

Meir Zorea - Participation in the Israeli military

Dozens of former Jewish Brigade members were called upon to lead the Israel Defense Forces in anticipation of the impending War of Independence. At the time, former brigade members were among the few Israelis with military background. During the 1948 war, Zorea served as a battalion commander. Later, Zorea served on the general staff as the head of the training department. He also served as commander of the IDF officers school.

Zorea left the army in 1953, after the Night of the Ducks scandal that brought Israel to domestic and foreign crisis. Zorea re-enlisted in 1956. He went on to positions as deputy commander and later commander of Israel's tank corps, head of army intelligence, and commander of the Northern Command. Notably, Zorea was also involved in investigating the Bus 300scandal, wherein some Israeli soldiers were suspected of killing two captured Arab terrorists. In 1962, Zorea retired from the IDF as a Major-General. Later on, during the 1967 Six-Day War, Zorea led his tank corps into the Sinai Peninsula to capture Sharm el Sheikh from Egyptian forces. He also later participated in the Israeli capture of Adolf Eichmann, who stood trial and was later executed.

Meir Zorea - Civilian activity

As a civilian, Zorea was a member of the Israeli Scouts Movement and a founder of kibbutz Ma'agan Michael. He also served as a police cadet.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Participation in the Israeli military", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki