Allegiance Israel Name Moshe Levi | Rank Rav Aluf Years of service 1954–1987 | |
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Died January 8, 2008, Afula, Israel | ||
Service/branch Israel Defense Forces | ||
moshe levi
Moshe Levi (Hebrew: משה לוי) (1936 – January 8, 2008) was an Israeli military commander and the 12th chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). He served in this position from 1983 to 1987. He was the first chief of staff of Mizrahi origin.
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Biography
Levy, born in Tel Aviv to an Iraqi-Jewish family, was known by his army nickname Moshe VaHetzi (Hebrew: משה וחצי ("Moshe and a half") because of his towering height.
He was drafted into the army in 1954 and served in the Golani infantry brigade. After completing his officers' course, Levy joined the paratroops, and in 1956 he took part in the Mitla Pass parachute drop.
Levy was promoted to chief of staff in 1983, succeeding Rafael Eitan. During his tenure, he presided over the IDF withdrawal in Lebanon in 1985 and oversaw the redeployment of Israeli troops and the creation of the security zone in South Lebanon.
Levy helped to found the IDF ground forces branch. He created two new brigades: the Nahal and Givati brigades.
While serving as Chief of Staff and after retiring from the army, Levy lived on Kibbutz Beit Alfa in northern Israel. In his last years, he was the founding chairperson of the supervisory board of Highway 6, also known as the Trans-Israel Highway.
Levy was married twice and was survived by five children and five grandchildren.
On January 1, 2008, Levy suffered a massive stroke, his second, and died eight days later of a brain aneurysm at HaEmek Medical Center in Afula. He was buried Wednesday in Kibbutz Beit Alpha, with eight generals carrying his body, top government officials, and hundreds who knew and worked with him in attendance.
Popular culture
In a sketch by the HaGashash HaHiver comedy trio, Moshe Levy is referred to as Musa Wanus (Moshe and a half in Arabic).