David Israeli

David Israeli was born in 1938 in Basra

David Israeli was born on December 23, 1938, in Basra, Iraq. He was the eldest son of Hana and Israel, in a family of 7 children. He began school at the Alliance elementary school.

In 1950 he immigrated to Israel with his family. He studied at the Beit Yaakov school in Jerusalem and then at an evening high school, so he could work and help support his family. He later studied at the Command and Staff College and studied geography at Tel Aviv University.

He was drafted into the Armored Corps in 1957 and became a career officer in 1961. He fought in the Six-Day War in northern Sinai and later commanded Battalion 77 of the 7th Brigade. In May 1973 he became deputy commander of the 188th Armored Brigade.

On October 7, 1973, he led a tank force that held back Syrian tanks on the Oil Road near Nafah camp. He was killed while attacking Syrian tanks at Nafah. He was buried at the Mount Herzl military cemetery and was awarded the Medal of Courage after his death in 1975.

He married in 1963 and had 3 children. His name appears on several memorials, including the 188th Brigade memorial on the Golan Heights and Yad LaShiryon.