Shaul Mofaz during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on November 10, 2003.

Shaul Mofaz (help· info) (Hebrew: שאול מופז, born 1948 in Tehran, Iran) is the Israeli Minister of Defence and was the 16th Chief of the General Staff of the Israeli Defence Forces, particularly noted as the first Israeli of Iranian-Jewish origin to achieve that post. Israeli Minister of Defense Shaul Mofaz, public domain image from defenselink. ... Israeli Minister of Defense Shaul Mofaz, public domain image from defenselink. ... Donald Henry Rumsfeld (born July 9, 1932) is currently serving as the 21st United States Secretary of Defense, since January 20, 2001, under President George W. Bush. ... Image File history File links He-Shaul_Mofaz. ... Hebrew (עִבְרִית ‘Ivrit) is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family spoken by more than seven million people in Israel with the West Bank, the United States, and Jewish communities around the world. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... Map of Iran and surrounding lands, showing location of Tehran The towering Alborz mountains rising above modern Elahiyeh district and its green neighborhoods. ... The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) (Hebrew: צבא ההגנה לישראל Tsva Ha-Haganah Le-Yisrael ([Army] Force [for] the Defense of Israel), often abbreviated צהל Tsahal, alternative English spelling Tzahal, is the name of Israels armed forces (army, air force and navy). ... Persian Jews (also called Iranian Jews) are members of Jewish communities living in Iran and throughout the former greatest extents of the Persian Empire, The term is also used in reference to the descendants of these groups in primarily residing in Israel and the United States. ...

Mofaz has the unique distinction of serving under three different Israeli Prime Ministers, having been appointed as Chief of Staff by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (1996-1999) in 1998, then served under Prime Minister Ehud Barak (1999-2001), and was then appointed as Minister of Defense in 2002 by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (2001- ) who has complete faith in his abilities to manage the Israel Defense Forces. (help· info) (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. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... Ehud Barak (Hebrew: אֵהוּד בָּרָק) (born February 12th, 1942, in Mishmar HaSharon kibbutz, then British Mandate of Palestine) is an Israeli politician and was the 10th Prime Minister of Israel from 1999 to 2001. ... For the Cusco album, see 2002 (album). ... For more detail of Sharons recent illness, see Illnesses of Ariel Sharon. ...

Born in Teheran, Mofaz immigrated to Israel with his parents in 1957. Upon graduating from high school he joined the IDF in 1966 and served in the Paratroop Brigade. He participated in the Six-Day War, Yom Kippur War, 1982 Lebanon War, and Operation Entebbe with the paratroopers and Sayeret Matkal, an elite special forces unit. Tehran (also spelled Teheran) (تهران in Persian), population 8,000,000 (metropolitan: 10,000,000), is the capital of Iran and one of the major world cities. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Israel Defense Forces are part of the Israeli Security Forces. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... Combatants Israel Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq Commanders Yitzhak Rabin, Moshe Dayan, Uzi Narkiss, Israel Tal, Ariel Sharon Abdel Hakim Amer, Abdul Munim Riad, Sharif Zaid Ibn Shaker, Hafez al-Assad Strength 50,000 troops (264,000 including mobilized reservists); 197 combat aircraft Egypt 150,000 troops; Syria 75,000; Jordan... Combatants Israel Egypt, Syria, (Jordan, Iraq) Commanders Moshe Dayan, David Elazar, Ariel Sharon, Shmuel Gonen, Benjamin Peled Saad El Shazly, Ahmad Ismail Ali Strength 415,000 troops; 1,500 tanks, 3,000 armored carriers; 945 artillery units 100 mm and up; 561 airplanes, 84 helicopters; 38 warships. ... Lebanon War (Hebrew: מלחמת לבנון Milkhemet Levanon), also known as the 1982 Invasion of Lebanon or Operation Peace of the Galilee (מבצע שלום הגליל Mivtsa Shlom HaGalil in Hebrew), began June 6, 1982, when the Israel Defense Forces invaded southern Lebanon. ... Entebbe Airport, Uganda, scene of Operation Entebbe Operation Entebbe took place on the night of July 3 and early morning of July 4, 1976. ... Sayeret (Hebrew סיירת, pl. ... Special forces or special operations forces are military units which are formed and trained to conduct missions involving unconventional warfare, counter-terrorism, reconnaissance, direct action and foreign internal defense. ...

Mofaz was then appointed an infantry brigade commander for the 1982 Lebanon War. Afterwards he attended the US Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico, Virginia. On his return he was briefly appointed commander of the Officers School, before returning to active service as commander of the Paratroop Brigade in 1986. Lebanon War (Hebrew: מלחמת לבנון Milkhemet Levanon), also known as the 1982 Invasion of Lebanon or Operation Peace of the Galilee (מבצע שלום הגליל Mivtsa Shlom HaGalil in Hebrew), began June 6, 1982, when the Israel Defense Forces invaded southern Lebanon. ... The Marine Corps Base Quantico, near Fredericksburg, Virginia, is one of the largest United States Marine Corps bases in the world. ... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 35th 110,862 km² 320 km 690 km 7. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Shaul Mofaz served in a series of senior military posts, having been promoted to the rank of Brigadier General (1988). In 1993 he was made commander of the IDF forces in the West Bank. In 1994 he was promoted to Major General, commanding the Southern Corps. His rapid rise continued, in 1997 Mofaz was appointed Deputy Chief of the General Staff and in 1998 he was appointed Chief of the General Staff. 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII in Roman) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ...

His term of Chief of Staff was noted for financial and structural reforms of the Israeli Army. But the most significant event in his tenure was the eruption of the Second Intifada. The tough tactics undertaken by Mofaz drew widespread concern from the international community but were broadly supported by the Israeli public. Controversy erupted over the offensive in Jenin, intermittent raids in the Gaza Strip, and the continued isolation of Yasser Arafat. The al-Aqsa Intifada is the wave of violence and political conflict that began in September 2000 between Palestinian Arabs and Israelis; it is also called the Second Intifada (see also First Intifada). ... Jenin (Arabic: (help· info), Hebrew: גנין), a city on the West Bank, is a major Palestinian agricultural center. ... Arafat redirects here; for the hill east of Mecca, see Mount Arafat Yasser Arafat (Arabic: ياسر عرفات‎) (August 4 or August 24, 1929 – November 11, 2004), born Mohammed Abdel-Raouf Arafat al-Qudwa al-Husseini (محمد عبد الرؤوف القدوة الحسيني) and also known by the kunya Abu `Ammar (أبو عمّار), was Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) (1969...

Mofaz foresaw the wave of violence coming early as 1999 and prepared the IDF for intense guerrilla warfare in the territories. He fortified posts at the Gaza Strip and due to advance MOUT tactics and intelligent use of bulldozers he managed to keep IDF casualties low. However, he drew criticism from leftist groups because of the methods he had undertaken (such as house demolitions). 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... Guerrilla War redirects here. ... MOUT/FIBUA simulated in US Army exercise Urban warfare is warfare conducted in populated urban areas such as towns and cities. ... A bulldozer is a powerful crawler (caterpillar tracked tractor) equipped with a blade. ... The Israel Defense Forces are part of the Israeli Security Forces. ... In politics, left-wing, the political left or simply The Left are terms that refer to the segment of the political spectrum typically associated with any of several strains of socialism or Social Democracy/Democratic Socialist and Social liberalism, and defined in contradistinction to its polar opposite, the right-wing. ...

Following a government crisis in 2002, Shaul Mofaz was appointed defense minister by Ariel Sharon. For the Cusco album, see 2002 (album). ...

After retiring from the IDF, Mofaz joined the Likud party. Mofaz is a hardliner; although he supports an agreement with the Palestinians, he was determined to "liquidate" Arafat and was willing to make no compromise in the war against terrorist groups such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. Mofaz believes the IDF can stop Palestinian terrorism. Likud (Hebrew: ליכוד, literally means consolidation) is a right-wing political party in Israel. ... Yasser Arafat Yasser Arafat (Arabic: ياسر عرفات) (August 4 or August 24, 1929 – November 11, 2004), born Muhammad `Abd ar-Rauf al-Qudwa al-Husayni (محمد عبد الرؤوف القدوة الحسيني) and also known as Abu `Ammar (ابو عمّار), was co-founder and Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) (1969–2004); President of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA... The factual accuracy of this article is disputed. ... Islamic Jihad (Arabic: Harakat al-Jihad al-Islami) is a militant Islamist group based in the Syrian capital, Damascus. ... The Al_Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (كتائب شهداء الاقصى) are one of the militias of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafats al_Fatah faction. ... The term Palestinian terrorism is commonly used to describe acts of political violence committed by Palestinian individuals or groups against Israelis, Jews, and nationals of other countries. ...

On 21 November 2005, Mofaz rejected former Likud leader Ariel Sharon's invitation to join his new party, Kadima, and instead announced his candidacy for the leadership of Likud. But, on 11 December 2005 he withdrew from both the leadership race and the Likud to join Kadima. November 21 is the 325th day of the year (326th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Kadima (Hebrew: קדימה, Qādīmāh, forward) is a Centrist / Centre-right Israeli political party. ... December 11 is the 345th day (346th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Downward Turn?

Most of the Israeli public has retained a favourable attitude toward Mofaz and his function as Defense Minister. However, his hesitant conduct during the split between Likud and Kadima was a strategic blunder politically that through him backward in the chain of potential successors of Ariel Sharon that allowed current Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni to outlflank him after years when he was considered the key ally of Sharon in the cabinet, even more so than Olmert. Ehud Olmert (IPA ; Hebrew: אהוד אולמרט; born September 30, 1945) is the twelfth Prime Minister of Israel. ... Tzipi Livni, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipora (Tzipi) Livni (Hebrew: ציפי לבני) (born July 5, 1958) is a senior Israeli politician currently serving as Foreign Affairs Minister and Justice Minister. ...

In the current negotiations for the forming of the Olmert government Mofaz's status has been downgraded because of Kadima's priority of keeping the Finance Ministry and Treasury in their hands and not in the hands of their biggest partner the rival Labour Party. Current media reports in Israel indicate that the Ministry of Defense will be delivered to Labour leader Amir Peretz, who would be the first civilian to hold that position since Prime Minister Levi Eshkol did in the 1960's. Mofaz would therefore be left with the options of less prestigious portfolios, such as the Interior, Interior Security, or Trade and Industry to choose from. The embarrassing demotion, in addition to similar dissatisfaction being implied to the media by former Prime Minister Shimon Peres also of Kadima in response to the results of the Kadima-Labour negotiations is considered to be a prime motivator for a potential schism within Kadima itself that could lead to the disintegration of the party into small "principalities", rival camps that would transform Olmert into an impotent and irrelevant leader, and probably allow him to serve for only a short period of time. The name Labour Party or Labor Party is used by several political parties around the world. ... Amir Peretz (Hebrew: עמיר פרץ; Arabic: عمير بيريتس; born March 9, 1952) is an Israeli politician and the current leader of the Labour Party of Israel. ... ▶(?) (Hebrew לֵוִי אֶשְׁכּוֹל ) (Born Levi Skolnick) (Hebrew לֵוִי שְׁקוֹלְנִיק) (October 25, 1895 - February 26, 1969), was the third Prime Minister of Israel from 1963 until his death of a heart attack in 1969. ... ▶ (help· info) (Hebrew שִׁמְעוֹן פֶּרֶס without Niqqud: שמעון פרס) (born Shimon Perske on August 16, 1923 in Poland, and immigrated with his family to Israel in 1934), is an Israeli politician, who was a member of the Labour Party until December 2005. ...

Amnon Lipkin-Shahak (Hebrew: אמנון ליפקין-שחק, born March 18th, 1944) was the chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces, and later Israeli Minister of Tourism and Transport. ... The term Chief of Staff can refer to: The White House Chief of Staff, the highest-ranking member of the Executive Office of the President of the United States. ... The Israel Defense Forces are part of the Israeli Security Forces. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... For the Cusco album, see 2002 (album). ... General Moshe Yaalon, Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (2002-2005) Lieutenant-General Moshe Yaalon (often nicknamed Boogie) (born 1950) was the 17th Chief of Staff (רמטכל) of the Israeli Defence Force. ... Brigadier-General (Res. ... Defense Ministers of Israel, 1948-present David Ben-Gurion 1948-1954 Pinhas Lavon 1954-1955 David Ben-Gurion 1955-1963 Levi Eshkol 1963-1967 Moshe Dayan 1967-1974 Shimon Peres 1974-1977 Ezer Weizman 1977-1980 Menachem Begin 1980-1981 Ariel Sharon 1981-1983 Moshe Arens 1983-1984 Yitzhak Rabin... For the Cusco album, see 2002 (album). ... // In politics The incumbent, in politics, is the current holder of a political office. ...

See also

• Shaul Mofaz Biography at Jewish Virtual Library
• List of Israel's Chiefs of the General Staff
• Iran-Israel relations