Major General Aviezer Yaari, who warned before Yom Kippur War and was reprimanded, dies at 96

Major General (res.) Aviezer Yaari, who warned on the eve of the Yom Kippur War of Egypt and Syria's intention to attack and was reprimanded, passed away at age 96. Yaari served in the IDF for about 39 years in senior positions, including Head of the Operations Division, OC Central Command, and Head of the Manpower Division. After his retirement, he served as the Defense Establishment Ombudsman in the State Comptroller's Office.

Major General (res.) Aviezer Yaari, one of the prominent figures in the IDF high command, passed away at age 96 and will be laid to rest at Kibbutz Merhavia in the Jezreel Valley. Yaari was born in 1930 at Kibbutz Merhavia to Anda and Meir Yaari, the legendary Mapam leader. He began his security career in the Palmach, participated in the battles of the War of Independence in the Yiftach Brigade, and continued in regular service for about 39 years. On the eve of the Yom Kippur War, he served in the Intelligence Directorate as head of Branch 5, and on October 1, 1973, he relayed information that Egypt and Syria were about to attack. After passing the information to the intelligence officer of Northern Command and to Major General Albert Mandler, he was summoned to a reprimand session where he was told he must convey the Aman assessment that 'nothing is happening.' Subsequently, he held senior positions: commander of the Golani Brigade, division commander, head of the General Staff Division (later the Operations Division), OC Central Command, and Head of the Manpower Division. In 1987, he retired from the IDF and moved to the State Comptroller's Office, where he served as the Defense Establishment Ombudsman until 2000. During this period, notable audit reports were published on the Tze'elim B disaster, reserve service, and home front preparedness for a chemical attack during the Gulf War. Giora Yaari, aged 92, eulogized him: 'Aviezer foresaw severe disasters and was among the best intelligence officers of the IDF.' Major General Yedidya Yaari is his nephew.