Militaryאברהם בוצר

Avraham Botzer

Avraham Botzer was an Israeli naval officer who commanded the Israeli Navy from 1968 to 1972.

1929 to 2012Commanding the Israeli NavyThe Cherbourg boats operationTaking Sharm el-Sheikh in 1967Heading the Trans-Israel pipeline

Born: 25 July 1929, Poland
Died: 2 June 2012, Tel Aviv
Occupation: military officer, military personnel, lawyer
Rank: aluf
Wars: 1948 Palestine war, Suez Crisis, Six-Day War, War of Attrition

Avraham Botzer was born in 1929 in Poland

Botzer was born in Poland in 1929 and came to the Land of Israel in 1936. He attended the Ahad Ha'am school and Tichon Hadash, and was active in the Sea Scouts.

In 1946 he joined the Palyam and took part in bringing Jewish immigrants ashore. In 1947 the British caught him and sent him to Cyprus, but he was returned after about two weeks because of his young age.

He joined the new Israeli Navy during the War of Independence and stayed on after the war, holding ship commands and staff posts. He served as deputy commander of INS Eilat in the Sinai War and commanded the Red Sea front in the Six-Day War, when his force took Sharm el-Sheikh.

In 1968 he became commander of the navy with the rank of Aluf. During the War of Attrition the navy carried out raids in the Gulf of Suez, and in 1969 five missile boats were taken out of Cherbourg. He resigned in 1972.

After leaving the navy he served as CEO of the Trans-Israel pipeline for over 20 years. He also studied law and worked as a lawyer. He died in 2012.

Milestones in Avraham Botzer's life

1936
Moved with his family to the Land of Israel.
1946
Joined the Palyam.
1947
Was deported to Cyprus by the British.
1952
Was promoted to captain and given command of the corvette INS Haganah.
1959
Was appointed commander of INS Jaffa.
1967
Commanded the Red Sea front in the Six-Day War.
1968
Became commander of the Israeli Navy.
1969
Five missile boats were taken out of Cherbourg under his command.
1972
Resigned as navy commander.
2012
Died.

Avraham Botzer served in the military

Botzer served in the Palyam from 1946 and in the Israeli Navy from the War of Independence, fighting in the Sinai War and the Six-Day War. He commanded the navy as an Aluf from 1968 to 1972, during the War of Attrition.