Militaryזאב רז

Ze'ev Raz

Ze'ev Raz is an Israeli Air Force fighter pilot, a reserve colonel, who led the formation that bombed the Iraqi nuclear reactor in Operation Opera in 1981.

born 1947Leading the Operation Opera strikeCommanding the IAF Flight AcademyCo-founding the Civil Democratic Movement

Born: 28 August 1947, Geva
Occupation: military personnel
Rank: aluf mishne
Wars: 1982 Lebanon War, War of Attrition, Yom Kippur War

Ze'ev Raz was born in 1947 in Geva

Ze'ev Raz was born on August 28, 1947, and grew up on Kibbutz Geva, a grandson of its founders. His uncle was Nachman Raz, a Knesset member for the Alignment. He went to high school in Ein Harod.

He joined pilot course 54 in 1966 and finished as a fighter pilot in 1967. He flew Mystere, Skyhawk and Phantom jets and shot down Syrian MiG planes in 1973, 1974 and 1982. He commanded Squadron 69, led Squadron 117 in the 1981 strike on the Iraqi reactor, and headed the Flight Academy from 1986 to 1989.

He holds a BA in political science and psychology from Bar-Ilan University and an MBA from Tel Aviv University. After leaving the IDF he ran the Bezeq College for Telecommunications for 6 years and managed 2 startups. He co-founded Tzomet, a body that works on teamwork, leadership and debriefing in organizations.

In 2020 he joined a petition to the High Court on Benjamin Netanyahu forming a government, and published a story book, Back from the Moon. In February 2023 he posted and quickly deleted a quote about the prime minister, apologized, and was called for police questioning. In 2023 he co-founded the Civil Democratic Movement. He lives in Hod HaSharon.

Ze'ev Raz's life in 9 milestones

1966
Joined the IDF pilot course.
1967
Finished the pilot course as a fighter pilot.
1973
Shot down a Syrian MiG-21 in the Yom Kippur War.
1977
Became commander of Squadron 69.
1981
Led the strike on the Iraqi nuclear reactor in Operation Opera.
1982
Shot down a Syrian MiG-23 in an F-16.
1986
Became commander of the Flight Academy.
2020
Published the story book Back from the Moon.
2023
Co-founded the Civil Democratic Movement.

Ze'ev Raz served in IDF Pilot Course

Raz served as an Israeli Air Force fighter pilot from 1966, fought in the War of Attrition and the Yom Kippur War, and commanded Squadrons 69 and 117 and the Flight Academy. He retired as a colonel and received the Chief of Staff citation for Operation Opera.

IDF Pilot Course