In a dream match-up for IDF servicemen, Maccabi Tel Aviv faced off against an IDF basketball team today. Dozens of high-ranking officers left their bases to watch the General Staff Forum officers and Israel’s top-rated basketball team face off on the court.
Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz faces off former NBA point guard Jordan Farmar of the New York Nets. Photo: Sgt. Ben Ish Revivo, IDF Spokesperson.
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Idan Shetel, a company commander in the IDF Armored Corps, graduated first in his Maneuver Captains Career Course.
Captain Idan Shetel and a friend from the course.
“I was the only Israeli there. I was with 16 foreign officers from all over the world, and obviously quite a few Americans.”
Demonstrating excellence in all areas of academic and military training, Shetel competed with students from around the world–Japan, Australia, Egypt, and others. Hosted by the US Army at Fort Benning, GA, the seven-month course prepares captains for company commands and serving as officers at battalion and brigade levels.
Captain Idan Shetel and officers from the course.
“I was also required to explain about the state and the army. The peak was when I led a lesson on the Yom Kippur War. It was interesting to tell about it to the Egyptians because they only know about the beginning phase of the war. They for sure don’t know that we won in the end, but they were gentlemen and also knew how to appreciate what I’m saying–and to argue when needed.”
Shetel underwent a rigorous application process and competed with dozens of candidates before being selected as Israel’s representative for the course.
Shetel will implement gained knowledge and experience as the new course commander of tank commanders.
Shetel enlisted in the IDF in 2004, initially serving in the 7th Flotilla of the Israel Navy. After a short while, Shetel left for the Armored Corps. After a series of roles in the corps, Shetel served as platoon commander of the 53rd Battalion along the Israel-Lebanon border. Prior to Cast Lead, he was promoted to deputy company commander and was awarded for his excellence by the chief of the Armor Corps for Shetel’s leadership in southern Gaza.
Earlier today, an explosive device detonated near IDF soldiers performing routine activity next to the security fence in the central Gaza Strip.
During their routine activity, the soldiers identified four additional explosive devices planted adjacent to the security fence, and detonated them in a controlled manner, assisted by an IAF aircraft.
Explosive devices planted near the Gaza security fence
This incident proves yet again that terrorist organizations use the area adjacent to the security fence to promote terror activity, with the objective of harming Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers. The IDF holds the Hamas terrorist organization solely responsible for any terrorist activity emanating from the Gaza Strip.
Explosive devices planted near the Gaza security fence
The Medal of Valor hangs framed in his home office, the highest military decoration in the Israel Defense Forces. Avigdor Kahalani received it for service during the Yom Kippur War.
Avigdor Kahalani receives the Medal of Valor for service during the Yom Kippur War (1975).
On the Yom Kippur of October 6, 1973, Egypt and Syria launched a coordinated surprise attack on Israel. The Yom Kippur War was launched on the holiest day on the Jewish calendar: The Day of Atonement.
I think we should tell the truth [about war] to soldiers. Truth creates unity, camaraderie, willingness, preparedness…Information is power…Going to war is not child’s play.
Kahalani commanded the 77th Armored Battalion in the Golan Heights, which ultimately succeeded in repelling a superior Syrian force.
The first part of the battle lasted from the Saturday night of Yom Kippur until the following Tuesday afternoon.
It was a very difficult battle of defense. It was one Israeli tank against ten of theirs. Their planes slaughtered us. On the first day, we lost 25 planes in the Golan.
Their artillery fired thousands and thousands of shells; their tanks were lower, better than ours. I lost many combat soldiers, many of the wounded and many tanks. The most critical hours of the battle were Tuesday at 10:00 AM, when most of the Golan Heights was no longer in our hands, and the only place left for them to finish the job was the Valley of Tears.
The surprise of the combined Arab attack left the IDF forces in disarray. Kahalani was forced to command a group of tanks and servicemen from different armored battalions.
As a part of the 7th Brigade, I was responsible for concentrating all of the leftover tanks at the Valley of Tears Battle. Two days later, we broke into Syria. It was a very difficult war–we stopped 35 miles from Damascus.
On May 31, 1974, Israel and Syria signed a disengagement agreement. This included the establishment of UN observers in the demilitarized zone and IDF evacuation of territory captured in the Yom Kippur War.
The military decoration was a very exciting moment in 1975. My parents and I lost my brother Emanuel in the war; he was married for ten days. Prior to attending my ceremony, we went to the Tel Aviv Opera House to collect the Medal of Distinguished Service awarded to my deceased brother, who died in the war.
Standing in the Israeli Presidential home, Kahalani was the last of eight to receive the award.
I do not think I had internalized the intensity of the moment. I think that in the course of time this issue had bigger dimensions than what I felt at that moment. I felt like I represent my battalion, as if I’m representing my combat soldiers.
After completing my military career, I left feeling that I want to serve the public and not my home.
Always searching for a way to contribute, Avigdor Kahalani returned to serving the IDF. This time, he became chairman of the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel’s Soldiers (AWIS).
Kahalani holds a B.A. degree in History from Tel-Aviv University and an M.A. in Political Science from Haifa University. He also attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and graduated form the National Defense College.
Elected to the Knesset for the Labor Party in 1992, he served on the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense and the Education and Culture Committees.
Kahalani is married and has three children.
In a joint IDF-ISA activity, IAF aircraft identified a squad of terrorists preparing to launch rockets at Israel from the northern Gaza Strip, and thwarted the attempt by firing at them. A hit was confirmed.
The mentioned squad is known to have been involved in a number of cases of launching rockets at Israel in recent weeks, including the rocket that hit an abandoned building in the Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council two days ago. The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm Israeli civilians and will continue to operate against any organization which uses terror against the State of Israel. The IDF holds the Hamas terrorist organization solely responsible for any terrorist activity emanating from the Gaza Strip.
IAF Targets Terror Cell in Gaza
