Eyal Eisenberg
Encyclopedia
General-Major Eyal Eisenberg (Hebrew
: אייל אייזנברג; born 1963) is a general in the Israel Defense Forces
; currently the head of the Home Front Command. He led the Israel Defense Forces
(IDF) Gaza Division
during the 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict
.
in 1963. He began his military service in the Israel Defense Forces in 1981, as a cadet in the Israel Air Force (IAF) Flight School. He did not complete his pilot training, and moved to the Air Force's Shaldag commando unit
, where he became a company
commander. He then joined the Givati Brigade
as commander of the Brigade's Samson's Foxes
Reconnaissance
company, and later as the commander of its Shaked battalion
. He returned to the Shaldag Unit as its commander, a post he held from 1996- 1999. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel
, and commanded the Eastern Brigade
of Lebanon Liaison Unit during Israel's withdrawal from the security zone it held in Lebanon in 2000. Subsequently he commanded a reserve paratrooper
brigade, before returning to Givati Brigade as its commander, in 2003-2005. He led the brigade during Operation Days of Penitence
, and according to Human Rights Watch
, he was one of the key Israeli decision-makers in the Gaza Strip
during Operation Rainbow in May 2004. In November 2005 he assumed command of the 98th Paratroopers Division
, and led it during the 2006 Lebanon War. Though the performance of his division in the war was criticized by the Winograd Commission
, he was the only one of the four divisional commanders that participated in the war who continued to serve in the army after the war, advancing in the ranks. His appointment as commander of the Gaza Division was harshly criticized, due to the perceived failure of the division under his command in the Lebanon war.
Eisenberg replaced Moshe Tamir as commander of the Gaza Division on 19 November 2008. The handing over of command was postponed due to a surge in tensions around Gaza.
Eyal Eisenberg was reprimanded on February 2, 2010 for the authorization of an artillery attack which hit a UN compound in Tel El Hawa on. During the attack on 15 January 2009 the compound was set ablaze by white phosphorus shells. The Israel Defense Forces did not say what form of discipline Eisenberg faces, but that he was accused of "exceeding his authority in a manner that jeopardised the lives of others" during the shelling of Tel al-Hawa
during the Israel Defense Forces
' Operation Cast Lead on January 15, 2009.
On June 15, 2011, Eisenberg was appointed head of the Home Front Command.
in central Israel.
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
: אייל אייזנברג; born 1963) is a general in the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
; currently the head of the Home Front Command. He led the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
(IDF) Gaza Division
Gaza Division
The Israel Defense Forces Gaza Division , is subordinate to the Southern Regional Command. Its area of operation is the Gaza Strip and the area surrounding it...
during the 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict
2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict
The Gaza War, known as Operation Cast Lead in Israel and as the Gaza Massacre in the Arab world, was a three-week bombing and invasion of the Gaza Strip by Israel, and hundreds of rocket attacks on south of Israel which...
.
Military career
Eisenberg was born in Kfar BialikKfar Bialik
Kfar Bialik is a moshav in northern Israel. Located near Kiryat Bialik, it falls under the jurisdiction of Zevulun Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 786....
in 1963. He began his military service in the Israel Defense Forces in 1981, as a cadet in the Israel Air Force (IAF) Flight School. He did not complete his pilot training, and moved to the Air Force's Shaldag commando unit
Shaldag Unit
Shaldag , also known as Special Air-Ground Designating Team and Unit 5101, is an elite Israeli Air Force commando unit.- History :...
, where he became a company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
commander. He then joined the Givati Brigade
Givati Brigade
The Givati Brigade is an infantry brigade of the Israel Defense Forces, and serves as its amphibious force. Givati soldiers are designated by purple berets...
as commander of the Brigade's Samson's Foxes
Samson's Foxes
Samson's Foxes was an Israeli commando unit of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. It was part of the 54th Battalion of the Givati Brigade...
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
company, and later as the commander of its Shaked battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
. He returned to the Shaldag Unit as its commander, a post he held from 1996- 1999. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
, and commanded the Eastern Brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
of Lebanon Liaison Unit during Israel's withdrawal from the security zone it held in Lebanon in 2000. Subsequently he commanded a reserve paratrooper
Paratrooper
Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force.Paratroopers are used for tactical advantage as they can be inserted into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not accessible by land...
brigade, before returning to Givati Brigade as its commander, in 2003-2005. He led the brigade during Operation Days of Penitence
Operation Days of Penitence
Operation Days of Penitence was the name used by Israel to describe an Israel Defense Forces operation in the northern Gaza Strip, conducted between September 30, 2004 and October 16, 2004...
, and according to Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
, he was one of the key Israeli decision-makers in the Gaza Strip
Gaza Strip
thumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
during Operation Rainbow in May 2004. In November 2005 he assumed command of the 98th Paratroopers Division
98th Paratroopers Division (IDF)
thumb|right|280px|Structure 98th Paratroopers Division The Israel Defense Forces 98th Paratroopers Division, also known as the Fire Formation , is a reserve-service Infantry division in the IDF...
, and led it during the 2006 Lebanon War. Though the performance of his division in the war was criticized by the Winograd Commission
Winograd Commission
The Winograd Commission is an Israeli government-appointed commission of inquiry, chaired by retired judge Eliyahu Winograd, which investigated and drew lessons from the Israel-Hezbollah War...
, he was the only one of the four divisional commanders that participated in the war who continued to serve in the army after the war, advancing in the ranks. His appointment as commander of the Gaza Division was harshly criticized, due to the perceived failure of the division under his command in the Lebanon war.
Eisenberg replaced Moshe Tamir as commander of the Gaza Division on 19 November 2008. The handing over of command was postponed due to a surge in tensions around Gaza.
Eyal Eisenberg was reprimanded on February 2, 2010 for the authorization of an artillery attack which hit a UN compound in Tel El Hawa on. During the attack on 15 January 2009 the compound was set ablaze by white phosphorus shells. The Israel Defense Forces did not say what form of discipline Eisenberg faces, but that he was accused of "exceeding his authority in a manner that jeopardised the lives of others" during the shelling of Tel al-Hawa
Tel al-Hawa
Tel al-Hawa or Tel al-Islam is a neighborhood in the southern part of the Palestinian city of Gaza. Founded by the Palestinian National Authority in the late 1990s, Tel al-Hawa is one of the more affluent areas of the city...
during the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
' Operation Cast Lead on January 15, 2009.
On June 15, 2011, Eisenberg was appointed head of the Home Front Command.
Personal life
Eisenberg is married and the father of 3 children. He lives in a moshavMoshav
Moshav is a type of Israeli town or settlement, in particular a type of cooperative agricultural community of individual farms pioneered by the Labour Zionists during the second aliyah...
in central Israel.