Ariel Gonen

Ariel Gonen was born in 1986

Ariel Gonen was born on 7 December 1986. His parents are Shabtai and Yaffa.

He holds a bachelor's degree in social sciences from Bar-Ilan University. He also earned a master's degree in political science and national security from the University of Haifa.

He volunteered for the Givati Reconnaissance Unit in November 2005 and finished its training. After the infantry officers course in 2008, he became a team commander in the unit. In May 2009 he was badly hurt when his motorcycle hit a truck, and after years of rehabilitation he returned to service.

In 2021 he took command of the Givati Reconnaissance Unit, which carried out operations in the Nablus area against the Lions' Den group. In 2023 he became commander of the Gefen Battalion and led it in the Gaza Strip during the Iron Swords War. In August 2024 he was promoted to colonel and took command of the Samaria Brigade.

He ended his brigade command in July 2026 and was expected to study at the National Security College. In October 2026 he was chosen as ground forces attaché at Israel's embassy in Washington. He is married to Avital and has 2 children.