Meir Har-Zion, a larger-than-life IDF legend, dies

Meir Har-Zion, the legendary fighter whose famous battle tactics became part of Israel Defense Forces lore, died on Friday, at age 79. His family said he died peacefully at his ranch in northern Israel, where he was to be buried Sunday.

Har-Zion, who was born in Herzliya in 1934, helped form an elite striking force that was used for retaliatory raids against terrorists during Israel's early years, and later became the first commander of the Paratrooper Brigade's reconnaissance unit. Har-Zion was awarded the IDF's second-highest citation, the medal of courage, for an operation he led in 1955 behind enemy lines.

In the early 1950s, future Prime Minister Ariel Sharon approached Har-Zion, an outstanding foot soldier in the Nahal infantry brigade, to help him form Unit 101, which went on to become the stuff of legend for its daring missions. Then Chief of General Staff Moshe Dayan, who was impressed by Har-Zion's skills, had him commissioned as an officer despite the fact that he had not received proper training. At 21, Har-Zion was the youngest captain in Israeli history.

"Har-Zion is the best fighter since Bar Kochva," Dayan later wrote. After Har-Zion and his friend Rachel Savorai made the successful journey to the "forbidden city" of Petra, Jordan, he became a source of inspiration for many young Israelis, who tried to do as they did. At the time Jordan and Israel had no diplomatic relations.

In December 1953, Har-Zion led an IDF contingent on a retaliatory raid against terrorists in Hebron's city center. Braving the snow, they managed to walk the necessary 42 kilometers and execute "Operation Silk Gloves" in Jordanian-held territory.

In 1954, Har-Zion's sister Shoshana was killed with her friend while hiking in the Judean Desert. Har-Zion led a Unit 101 contingent for a retaliatory raid, killing four members of the perpetrators' Rashidiya tribe. Although he was arrested upon his return, he did not stand trial, thanks to Dayan and then-Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, who intervened on his behalf.

ln September 1956, he sustained wounds to his neck during a retaliatory raid. After a long rehabilitation, he donned a uniform again and helped create the general staff's elite reconnaissance unit, Sayeret Matkal. He later took part in the 1967 Six-Day War and in the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

He ultimately retired to his ranch, nestled in the hills overlooking the Jordan Valley, and became a leader in the local cattle industry, having gained unique expertise in this topic.

In 1969, he coauthored a book retelling his experience as a young commander.

Yishai Zimerman, 80, who went to school with Har-Zion and fought alongside him in Unit 101, eulogized him on Saturday.

"He was an extraordinary fighter," Zimerman said. "He lived and breathed the outdoors, like a wild species. He had confidence, and his confidence spread to us. We always knew that he could be trusted. He never gave orders; he just led by example."

Shimon Cahaner, another comrade, said: "Meir had the sum of all qualities -- courage, physical strength, determination, relentlessness. I already miss him."

Har-Zion is survived by four children.