Yigal Allon

Israeli politician

Yigal Allon (Hebrew: יגאל אלון‎; 10 October 1918 – 29 February 1980) was an Israeli politician, commander of the Palmach, and general in the IDF.

He served as one of the leaders of Ahdut HaAvoda party and the Israeli Labor party, and briefly as acting Prime Minister of Israel in 1969 - the first native born prime minister.

He was a Knesset member and government minister from the third Knesset to the ninth inclusive.Allon died unexpectedly in 1980 after he suffered a cardiac arrest.

Allon, born a child of pioneer settlers in the Lower Galilee, became a member of the Labor Movement and a resident of Kibbutz Ginosar in his teen years.

With the eruption of the 1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine, Allon joined the Haganah and later the Palmach.He commanded a squad and organized key operations in the Jewish Resistance Movement such as the "Night of the Bridges." During the 1947–1949 Palestine war Allon commanded the conquest of the Galilee, Lod and Ramla, as well as the entire Negev up to Eilat as Head of the Southern Command.

Allon transpired as a skilled strategist and master of military deception.After a forced relief from command by Premier David Ben-Gurion, Allon entered politics while being adorned with the glory of his military service.

Allon was one of the architects of the Labor party creation, advocating for the merge of Ahdut HaAvoda with Mapai for the completion of this goal.

During his political career, Allon served as Foreign and Education minister, as well as Deputy Prime Minister, and once devised the "Allon Plan" named after him.

Allon took part in the Sinai Interim Agreement in 1975 and served as Acting Prime Minister between the death of Levi Eshkol and the appointment of Golda Meir.

Allon's reputation as a politician is that of one who missed his opportunity for greatness, such as the appointment of his political rival, Moshe Dayan, to Defense Minister, instead of him, on the eve of the Six-Day War.

Allon died while campaigning for the leadership of the Labor party.

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