Moshe Dayan was a prominent Israeli military commander and politician, serving as Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces from 1953 to 1958, Minister of Defense between 1967 and 1974, and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1977 to 1979.
Early Days
He joined the Haganah in 1929 at fourteen years old and rose to command a unit within the Palestine Supernumerary Police by 1938.
Fun Facts
Dayan is famously recognized for his eye patch, which he wore after losing an eye during wartime; he also led Israeli forces in the 1956 Suez Crisis and later authored memoirs detailing his military experiences.
Family Life
He married Ruth Dayan from 1935 until their divorce in 1971, and they had three children—two of whom published books about their personal relationships with him.
Collaborations With
Dayan worked closely with Prime Minister David Ben Gurion throughout his career and coordinated with American military advisers during the Suez Crisis; as Foreign Affairs Minister he partnered with international diplomats to advance Israel’s global interests.