Bar-Lev, Gen Chaim (1924-94), Israeli general and politician. The Austrian-born Bar-Lev played a key role in the Arab-Israeli wars. During the War of Independence (1948-9), he commanded a battalion of the Narev Brigade. By the Sinai war in 1956, Bar-Lev was the commander of the Armoured Corps, and his troops were the first to reach the canal during the Suez campaign. During the Six Day War (June 1967), he was DCOS to Yitzhak Rabin. After studying in the USA and France, he became COS of the IDF on 1 January 1968, a position he held until 1971.
During Bar-Lev's tenure the IDF shifted its focus from offensive to defensive operations, designed to protect the territory gained in the previous war and to reduce manpower demands. He ordered the creation of a defensive line along the eastern bank of the Suez Canal. This so-called Bar-Lev Line, completed between January and February 1969, consisted of a series of forward fortifications strong enough to withstand enemy artillery, which were supported by armoured forces in the rear. Although it had gradually become a more complex defensive position (in all more than $40 million was spent), the line was easily penetrated by the Egyptians at the beginning of the Yom Kippur war in 1973 and the armoured ‘fire brigades’ were ambushed and mauled by Egyptian anti-armour forces.
Bar-Lev was later elected to the Knesset and served as a minister in various cabinets between 1972 and 1977.
— Robert Foley
