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Avigdor KahalaniIsraeli military, political and public figure.
Date of Birth: 16.06.1944
Country:  Israel |
Content:
Early Life and Military Service
Aharon Kahlani was born in Ness Ziona, Israel, in 1944 to parents who had emigrated from Yemen. He attended the ORT school, where he studied mechanics. In 1962, he was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), where he served in a tank unit. After excelling in a sergeant's course, he was sent to officer training but was unable to complete the program. He was then sent to tank officer training and later commissioned as a lieutenant.
During the Six-Day War, Kahlani commanded a tank company and was severely wounded in battle in the Sinai. He sustained burns over 60% of his body and spent a year in recovery, undergoing 12 plastic surgeries. For his actions in this battle, he was awarded the Medal of Valor.
Yom Kippur War
In the Yom Kippur War, Kahlani commanded the 77th Tank Battalion and fought on the Golan Heights. In a key battle near the city of Quneitra, his battalion managed to halt advancing enemy forces and destroy numerous Syrian tanks. Kahlani personally led his battalion from the open hatch of one of the tanks. For his bravery in this battle, he was awarded the Medal of Heroism, Israel's highest military honor. Tragically, he lost his brother, Emmanuel, and brother-in-law, Ilan, during the war.
Operation Peace for Galilee
In the 1982 Operation Peace for Galilee, Kahlani commanded the "Gaash" Armored Division. He retired from the IDF in the rank of Brigadier General (Tat Aluf).
Political Career
In 1992, Kahlani was elected to the Knesset on the Labor Party list. The following year, he ran for mayor of Tel Aviv but lost to Likud candidate Roni Milo. In 1995, he helped establish the new political party "Third Way," whose main policy was to oppose any return of the Golan Heights to Syria. The party won 4 seats, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed Kahlani as Minister of Internal Security.
Later Life
In the subsequent elections, the Third Way party failed to pass the electoral threshold, and Kahlani turned to public service. He became the head of the "Association for Assistance to Soldiers" in November 2007. Kahlani has also authored five books and holds academic degrees in history and political science. He is married with three children.
