The 1997 Israeli Helicopter Collision, occurring on February 4, 1997, left 73 IDF soldiers dead after 2 Sikorsky CH-53 collided over Moshav Sha'ar Yishuv in Northern Israel. The helicopters were supposed to have crossed the border into Israel's "security zone" in Lebanon, but were hovering while waiting for official clearance to go. Previously Israel had moved troops by ground, but this policy was changed as the threat of roadside bombs from Hizbullah increase.^[1] February 4 is the 35th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) (Hebrew: צבא ×”×”×’× ×” לישראל , [Army] Force for the Defense of Israel), often abbreviated with the Hebrew acronym צהל Tsahal, alternative English spelling Tzahal, is the name of Israels armed forces, comprising the Israeli Army, the Israeli Air Force and the Israeli Navy. ... HMH-465 CH-53E doing an external lift in Iraq The CH-53 Sea Stallion is the most common name for the Sikorsky S-65 family of heavy transport helicopter. ... Moshav (Hebrew: מושב Translit. ... Hezbollah militant Guerrilla carrying Hezbollah Flag Hezbollah (Arabic ‮حزب الله‬, meaning Party of God) is a political and military organization in Lebanon founded in 1982 to fight Israel in southern Lebanon. ...

The crash brought about widespread national grieving. Thursday February 6 was declared an official day of mourning, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Ezer Weizman attended funerals and visited the surviving families. In addition, thousands of Israelis went to pray at the Western Wall, and assemblies were held at schools nationwide. February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... (Hebrew: בִּנְיָמִין נְתַנְיָהוּ (without niqqud: בנימין נתניהו), Hebrew transliteration written in English: Binyamin Netanyahu, nicknamed Bibi) (born October 21, 1949, Tel Aviv) was the 9th Prime Minister of Israel. ... Ezer Weizman (עזר ויצמן) (Tel Aviv, June 15, 1924 – Caesarea Maritima, April 24, 2005) was the seventh President of the State of Israel (1993-2000). ... Western Wall by night Wailing Wall redirects here. ...

Being the worst air disaster in Israeli history, a commission headed by David Ivry was set up to investigate the cause of the collision. The committee finished its investigation in mid-April of the same year. It had been unable to find the definite cause of the mid-air collision, noting that the pilots appeared in good health, and that no external causes could be found. Israeli Ambassador to the USA. ...

Notes

June 11 is the 162nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (163rd in leap years), with 203 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

References

• Segal, Naomi. "Pilot error may be cause of horrific helicopter crash", Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Feb. 14, 1997. Accessed June 11, 2006.
• Segal, Naomi. "Discipline recommended in copter crash that killed 73", Jewish Telegraphic Agency, April 25, 1997. Accessed June 11, 2006. 123

June 11 is the 162nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (163rd in leap years), with 203 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 11 is the 162nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (163rd in leap years), with 203 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• "Two army helicopters crash in northern Israel killing 73 people", The Michigan Daily, Feb. 5, 1997. Accessed June 11, 2006.
• "Military helicopters collide in Israel, killing scores", CNN, Feb. 4, 1997. Accessed June 11, 2006.
• " The Israeli Helicopter Crash- Reactions in Lebanon", News at Lebanon, Feb. 5, 1997. Accessed June 11, 2006.