David Elazar (Hebrew: דוד אלזר; 16 January 1925 – 14 January 1976) was an Israeli military officer who served as the tenth Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from 1972 to 1974. His tenure encompassed the Yom Kippur War of 1973, after which he faced criticism for the IDF’s preparedness and performance; he subsequently retired from active service.
Early Life and Education
David Elazar was born in Haifa, Mandatory Palestine, to a family of Romanian Jewish immigrants. He attended the Hebrew Reali School in Haifa and later enrolled in the Haganah, the Jewish paramilitary organization, during the 1940s. After the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, he transferred to the newly formed IDF.
Military Career
- 1948 Arab–Israeli War: Elazar served in the 8th Armored Brigade, participating in operations in the Galilee and Jerusalem sectors.
- 1950s–1960s: He held a series of command and staff positions, including commander of the 7th Armored Brigade and deputy commander of the Armored Corps. He attended the IDF Command and Staff College and later the British Army’s Staff College, Camberley.
- Six-Day War (1967): As a lieutenant colonel, Elazar acted as chief of staff to the Southern Command, contributing to the planning of operations in the Sinai Peninsula.
- 1972–1974 – Chief of Staff: Appointed by Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, Elazar oversaw the IDF during a period of heightened regional tension. He advocated for a rapid mobilization plan and emphasized the need for improved intelligence coordination.
Yom Kippur War (1973)
On 6 October 1973, Egypt and Syria launched a coordinated surprise attack on Israel during the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. As Chief of Staff, Elazar coordinated the IDF’s emergency response, which involved mobilizing reserve forces and launching counter‑offensives on both the Sinai and Golan fronts. While Israeli forces ultimately repelled the attack, the initial setbacks led to widespread public and political scrutiny of the IDF’s preparedness. A government commission, the Agranat Commission, examined the conduct of the war; it criticized the intelligence apparatus but cleared Elazar of direct responsibility for the early failures.
Later Life and Death
Following the war, Elazar remained in the IDF until his resignation in 1974. He subsequently entered the private sector, working in insurance and consulting. On 14 January 1976, he died of a heart attack while on a business trip in New York City, at the age of 50.
Legacy
David Elazar is remembered as a senior commander who played a pivotal role during one of Israel’s most challenging conflicts. Military historians note his efforts to modernize armored warfare doctrine and his advocacy for rapid reserve mobilization. The IDF’s “Elazar” armoured training facility, located at the IDF Maneuver Training Center in the Negev desert, bears his name in recognition of his contributions to Israel’s armored forces.