Uzi Narkiss

Uzi Narkiss (1925 - 1997) is an officer of Tsahal, and counts among the liberators of Jerusalem.

Parents of Polish origin, he studies in Gymnasium Rehavia. Its first memories are related to the Arab riots of 1929, when him and its family finds refuge in the town of Jerusalem. Its 27 years military career, long, starts for him at the 16 years age when it joined the forces of the Palmach. It is very active within the units of action of the Haganah. Narkiss is dedicated entirely to the project for the realization of the dream of re-establishment of a Jewish State.

Military career

War of 1948

In April 1948, after the departure of the British and the Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel, Narkiss leads the combat in the district of Qatamon to Jerusalem, and seizes the monastery of St Simon, not strategic of size. Narkiss is also responsible for the assistance to the besieged Jewish population of the Old city of Jerusalem. He and its unit bore the Porte of Sion of the Old city, and allow the provisioning of the besieged population, as well as the evacuation of the casualties. With the delay of the awaited forces of reinforcement, Narkiss orders the withdrawal of its forces of the Old city. A few moments after, the city fall to the hands from the Jordanian Legion.

In the first years of the State of Israel, Uzi Narkiss lives in France, where he studies at the beginning with the French Military academy, then he is named military official of Israel in France . It receives the Légion of honor French government. After its return of France, it continues its military career in Israel. In 1965, it is appointed First Director Military academy of Israel.

Six Day old war

In June 1967, Narkiss is charged with the engagements on the Jordanian face. It has 7 brigades under its command. The release of the Old city, still under Jordanian command, at the beginning is not envisaged with the program of the engagements; however, as of the first day of the war, the Israeli army seizes decisive positions of shootings Jordanian. Profiting from the occasion which is given to him, and under its command, it releases the Old city and thus takes part in the reunification of Jerusalem.

The famous photograph of Uzi Narkiss entering the Old city by the Door of the Lions, surrounded by Moshe Dayan and Yitzhak Rabin, on June 7th, 1967, is one of the historical independent sources used to evoke its memory. The release of the Old city represents according to him, 19 years an old historical revenge.

Child, Narkiss and his friends went each Shabbat to the Western Mur, which held less of the religious ceremonial than of a certain form of national unit. From there rises its disappointment, that Narkiss evokes in an interview which it grants some time before its disappearance, within sight of the purely religious statute which recovers the Western Wall since its release.

Narkiss leaves the military life in 1968, and during 20 years, for the Jewish Agence becomes responsible. He dies in Jerusalem at the 72 years age.

Random links: