Yaacov Haelyon

Yaacov Haelyon was born in 1937 in Israel

Yaacov Haelyon was born in Ramat Gan in 1937 to Yosef and Miriam. He joined the Armored Corps and fought in the Sinai War, taking part in the 1956 battle of Um Katef and Abu Ageila. His company, commanded by Moshe Bril, received a collective citation after the battle.

After his discharge he became a journalist at Maariv. In the Six-Day War he served in the reserves as a tank commander in Brigade 37 on the Golan Heights. He was badly wounded at Tel Faher, lost a leg and an eye, and spent 2 years in the hospital.

His book "Regel Shel Buba" described his battle, injury and rehabilitation. It was published in June 1973, became a bestseller and came out in 16 editions. He returned to Maariv, writing on crime and consumer affairs, lectured widely and sat on the film and theater review council.

He was married to Yael Haelyon, founder of the Tel Aviv School of Arts, who took her own life in October 2002. In November 2008 he was convicted of unlawful consensual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl and an indecent act against her sister. In April 2009 he was sentenced to 12 months in prison, and his appeal on the sentence was rejected.

He lived in Tel Aviv and died in April 2021. He was buried beside his wife in Nahalat Yitzhak Cemetery.