Zvi Zur
(1923 - 2004)
Born in the Ukraine, Zur came to Mandate Palestine as a baby.
He joined the Haganah in 1939, becoming a Givati Brigade battalion commander during the War of Independence. After the war he became brigade commander, and then chief of staff of the southern command.
In 1951 he was appointed chief of the IDF's manpower division. In 1956 he became commander of the central command; in 1958, he became deputy chief of staff. He studied in Paris, 1958-1961, and served as Israel's sixth chief of the general staff, 1961-1963.
Upon retiring from the IDF, he became director of Mekorot, Israel's water company. In 1965 he was elected to the Knesset, representing the Rafi party, but resigned. Before the Six Day War, in June 1967, he became assistant to the defense minister.
Sources: The Pedagogic Center, The Department for Jewish Zionist Education, The Jewish Agency for Israel, (c) 1992-2004 Director: Dr. Motti Friedman, Webmaster: Esther Carciente