Elazar, David
ELAZAR, DAVID
ELAZAR, DAVID ("Dado "; 1925–1976), Israeli soldier. Elazar was born in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, and came to Israel in 1940, joining kibbutz Sha'ar ha-Amakim. In 1946 he became a member of the *Palmaḥ and during the War of Independence carried out reconnaissance in Syria. In 1948 he was appointed company commander of the Harel Brigade and led the forces which broke through to the Old City of Jerusalem via the Zion Gate in May of that year.
He studied economics and Middle Eastern studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. After the Sinai Campaign, in which he commanded the infantry brigade which fought in Gaza, he was transferred to the Armored Corps, and in 1961 succeeded General Ḥaim Bar-Lev as its commander, being promoted to the rank of major-general in 1962. In November 1964 Elazar was appointed o.c. Northern Command and was responsible for the capture of the Golan Heights in the Six-Day War. In 1969 he was appointed chief of the General Staff Branch, and in November 1971, chief of staff and promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general.
Following the publication of the interim report of the Agranat Commission on the *Yom Kippur War, which was published early in 1974 and recommended that his term of office be terminated, Elazar submitted his resignation. Many felt he had been made a scapegoat for Israel's failures in the war. He was subsequently appointed head of the Zim Shipping Company.
A biography of Elazar, Dado, by Hanoch *Bartovo, appeared in 1978.