He defended Raful, and received praise from Rabin: The paratrooper who was not deterred by fear has passed away
Brigadier General (res.) Tzuri Sagie, one of the most prominent paratrooper officers in IDF history, has passed away at the age of 92. Sagie served for 32 years, commanded Battalion 890, was among the founders of the connection with the Kurdish rebels, and received praise from senior commanders for his courage and leadership.
Brigadier General (res.) Tzuri Sagie, one of the most famous paratrooper officers in IDF history, has passed away at the age of 92. Sagie served for 32 years in the IDF, held operational roles in the regular and reserve Paratroopers Brigade, and commanded regional brigades in the Jordan Valley, the Gulf of Eilat, and the Golan Heights. He was considered one of the most significant figures in the early days of the Paratroopers' Battalion 890, and one of the founders of Israel's connection with the Kurdish rebels, who revered him. Sagie was born in Herzliya, grew up in Moshav Ein Vered, and enlisted in the paratroopers in 1952. He commanded a platoon in Ariel Sharon's battalion and was a battalion commander in Rafael Eitan's (Raful) brigade. During Operation "Olive Leaf" in December 1955, after Raful was severely wounded, Sagie took command, completed the destruction of the Syrian machine guns, and the capture of the outpost. Chief of Staff Yitzhak Rabin praised his performance as commander of Battalion 890 in Operation "Rock Cliff" (the Qalqilya operation, 1965). Sagie spoke openly about fear, saying: "Whoever was not afraid was either an idiot or autistic." He is survived by a wife and son, and will be buried in Tel Mond.