1929 -

Chief of staff of the Israeli military; member of Israel's Knesset.

Rafael ("Raful") Eitan was born in Mandatory Palestine, at Moshav Tel Adashim. He attended Tel Aviv University and Israel's National Security College. He joined the Palmah in 1946 and fought in the Arab - Israel War of 1948. After serving in a number of high posts in the Israeli military, he became chief of staff in 1978, serving until 1983. As chief of staff, he worked with Defense Minister Ariel Sharon to plan and execute the invasion of Lebanon in the Arab - Israel War of 1982. In the aftermath of that war, he was criticized by the Kahan Commission, which investigated Israel's conduct in the war, for failing to prevent the mass killing of Palestinian civilians by Lebanese militiamen in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps.

In 1983, Eitan entered politics, founding the right-wing nationalist Tzomet Party, which united with the Tehiya Party before the 1984 elections. Eitan has been a member of the Knesset (Israel's parliament) representing the Tzomet and Tehiya parties since 1984 and advocating annexation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. He served as minister of agriculture and the environment and deputy prime minister from 1996 to 1999.

Bibliography

Rolef, Susan Hattis, ed. Political Dictionary of the State of Israel. New York: Macmillan, 1987.

— MARTIN MALIN

Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa. Copyright © 2004 by The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.