Defense Minister of Israel
"Whenever you accept our views, we shall be in full agreement with you."
Moshe Dayan's Yom Kippur War was the shadow side of his 1967 triumph. As Defense Minister when the war began, he was responsible for the intelligence failure that allowed Egypt and Syria to achieve complete surprise. In the first days, as Israeli forces were being overwhelmed on two fronts, Dayan is reported to have suffered a psychological collapse — telling Golda Meir that 'the Third Temple is falling,' urging her to consider a dramatic retreat, and appearing to contemplate the use of nuclear weapons as a last resort before the American airlift arrived. The Agranat Commission blamed the military for the intelligence failure, not the political leadership — but Dayan's reputation never fully recovered. He later served as Foreign Minister under Menachem Begin and was the Israeli negotiator of the peace treaty framework with Egypt — ending his career, appropriately, with diplomacy rather than war.
Did you know?
Dayan, the hero of 1967, suffered a psychological collapse in the first days of the Yom Kippur War. He reportedly told Prime Minister Meir that 'the Third Temple is falling' — meaning Israel itself — and proposed withdrawing to a shorter defensive line deep in the Sinai. Meir ignored his despair and pushed for reinforcement instead. His breakdown was kept secret for years.
October 6–9, 1973 · 3,000 total casualties
The canal crossing was Egypt's greatest military achievement since Thutmose III. The use of high-pressure water hoses to breach Israeli sand fortifications — a suggestion by a civilian engineer — was a stroke of operational ingenuity. The shock to Israeli military confidence was profound. The myth of Israeli invincibility, born in 1967, died on October 6, 1973.
October 6–9, 1973 · 3,500 total casualties
The Valley of Tears was arguably the most critical battle of the war. If Syria had broken through the Golan, their armor would have been 30 miles from Haifa with nothing to stop them. The desperate three-day stand by outnumbered Israeli tank crews — many fighting in damaged vehicles — bought the time for reinforcements to arrive. The battle is studied in military academies worldwide as a case study in armored warfare and command under pressure.
May 20, 1915
🌅 Birth
Born at Degania Alef
June 1941
⚔️ Battle
Lost left eye during Syria campaign
June 1967
⚔️ Battle
As Defense Minister, authorized and oversaw Six-Day War — hero of Israel
October 6–8, 1973
⚔️ Battle
Near-breakdown in first days of Yom Kippur War; reported 'Third Temple falling'
October 16, 1981
✝️ Death
Died in Tel Aviv, age 66