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Gadi EizenkotLieutenant General of the Israel Defense Forces
Date of Birth: 19.05.1960
Country:  Israel |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Military Career
- Escalating Responsibilities
- Operation Dahiya
- Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief of Staff
- Post-Military Career
Early Life and Education
Gady Eisenkotwas born in 1960 in Poria Medical Center, Tiberias, Israel, to Meir and Esther Eisenkot, immigrants from Morocco. The family moved to Eilat when Eisenkot's father began working at a copper mine in the Timna Valley. Eisenkot attended Almog Elementary School, Ye'elim School, and Goldwater School, where he studied nautical science.
Military Career
Early YearsEisenkot was conscripted into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in October 1978. He served in the 51st Battalion of the Golani Brigade. After completing officer training, he held positions as a platoon commander, company commander, and anti-tank company commander.
Escalating Responsibilities
In 1988, Eisenkot became the commander of the Golani Brigade's 13th Battalion. He served as the brigade's deputy commander from 1990 to 1992. Subsequently, he was appointed head of the Northern Command's operations department, commander of the Karmeli Reserve Infantry Brigade, commander of the Efraim Territorial Brigade, and commander of the Golani Brigade.
Operation Dahiya
Eisenkot gained prominence during his tenure as the Northern Command's commander. In an interview with Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, he outlined the "Dahiya Doctrine," named after the Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut heavily bombed by the IDF. The doctrine emphasized swift and disproportionate strikes on enemy positions used to target Israeli civilians.
Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief of Staff
Eisenkot was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff of the IDF in 2013. In 2014, he became the leading candidate for Chief of Staff. Following a recommendation from Minister of Defense Moshe Ya'alon, Eisenkot was appointed Chief of Staff in November 2014. He took office in February 2015.
Post-Military Career
Eisenkot retired from the IDF in 2019. Since then, he has served as a lecturer at Tel Aviv University and written a book titled "The Road to Nothing." He currently resides in Herzliya with his wife, Hana, and their five children.
