Former IDF chief of staff Moshe Levy dies
Moshe 'Moishe and a half' Levy, Israel's 12th chief of staff passes away after suffering stroke; was first IDF chief of staff to begin military career in IDF. Served as army chief during withdrawal from Lebanon
Levy, who was a resident of Beit Alfa in the Beit Shean Valley, was hospitalized 10 days ago following a stroke, and has since lapsed into a coma. He is survived by his wife and five children.
Several years ago, Levy suffered his first stroke and was hospitalized at the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer. Since then, he had been confined to a wheelchair but continued to be in the public eye, and even served as an advisor to a large Israel transportation corporation.
Nicknamed 'Moishe and a half' because of his height, Levy was the first IDF chief of staff to begin his career in the IDF as opposed to as a member of pre-1948 Jewish militias.
Levy was born in Tel Aviv to Iraqi immigrants to Israel. He was drafted into the IDF in 1954 serving first in the Golani brigade and later in the paratroopers.
Levy took part in the famed battle over Mitla pass in the Sinai Peninsula during the 1956 Suez campaign.
The former chief of staff was appointed to the position by then-Defense Minister Moshe Arens.
During his tenure, Levy presided over the IDF withdrawal from Lebanon in 1985 and initiated the establishment of two new IDF brigades: the Nahal and Givati brigades.
