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Eliezer Toledano

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Eliezer Toledano
Toledano in 2023
Native name
אליעזר טולדנו
Born (1973-10-12) 12 October 1973 (age 51)
Israel
Allegiance Israel
Service/branch Israel Defense Forces
Years of service1991–present
RankAluf (major general)
UnitParatroopers Brigade
Commands101st "Peten" (Elapidae) paratroop battalion, Maglan Unit, Reserve Paratroopers Brigade, Paratroopers Brigade, Military Secretary to the Prime Minister
Battles/wars

Eliezer Toledano (Hebrew: אליעזר טולדנו; born 12 October 1973) is an Israeli Aluf (major general) who served as the commander of the Paratroopers Brigade, the Military Secretary to the Prime Minister, the commander of the Gaza Division and of the Southern Command.[1][2] Currently, he heads the Strategy and Third-Circle Directorate of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces.[3]

Toledano with Senator Lindsey Graham and Ambassador David M. Friedman, 2019

Biography

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Toledano, the son of Haim and Linda, natives of Morocco, was born in Jerusalem during the Yom Kippur War. He grew up in Kiryat Motzkin. He studied at the Bnei Akiva Yeshiva of Pirchei Aharon in Kiryat Shmuel, and later attended the ORT Kiryat Bialik Educational Campus. He was a member and counselor in the Bnei Akiva youth movement in his hometown.

Military Service

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Eliezer Toledano (first from left) with Gen. Benny Gantz at the 35th Paratroopers Brigade command post in Operation Protective Edge

He enlisted in the IDF in November 1991, volunteered for the Paratroopers Brigade, and was assigned to 101st Battalion. He underwent combat training, the Infantry Commanders Course, and the Infantry Officers Course. Upon completing the course, he returned to the 101st Battalion and was appointed as a Platoon Commander. Later, he served as Deputy Company Commander, and subsequently was appointed Company Commander in the 101st Battalion. He later served as the battalion's Operations Officer (Katzin Agam). Afterward, he was appointed the training platoon commander in the elite Sayeret Matkal unit.[4] In 2000, he began studying for a bachelor's degree in Economics and Philosophy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. At the beginning of Operation Defensive Shield, he interrupted his studies to join the fighting within the Paratroopers Brigade. After completing his studies, he was appointed Deputy Commander of 890th Battalion. After studying at PUM, he was appointed Deputy Commander of Maglan Unit.

In June 2005, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and appointed Battalion Commander of the 101st Battalion, a role he held until 2006. During his command, he led the battalion in fighting Palestinian terrorism during the Second Intifada.[5] In June 2006, he was appointed commander of the Maglan Unit and led it, among other operations, during the Second Lebanon War.[6] At the start of the war, a force from the unit retrieved the bodies of a tank crew from Battalion 82 that was destroyed by an IED during the pursuit of the kidnappers. In the days that followed, mortar shells, recoilless rifles, and rockets were fired at Avivim, Yir'on, and other communities from the Jabal al-Dair area near Maroun al-Ras. A force from the unit crossed the border to search the area and attack the Hezbollah squads responsible for the fire. The force positioned itself in a dense, vegetation-covered area, where they spotted a metal door and camouflage netting spread over it (this area was later defined by the IDF as a "nature reserve"). They threw a hand grenade into the shaft, killing several terrorists. The remaining terrorists emerged from other shafts, and in the ensuing battle, two soldiers from the unit and eight terrorists were killed, including those killed in the first shaft by the grenade explosion. Later, Toledano proposed an operational plan to strike Hezbollah's rocket launchers,[7] which was approved, and the unit successfully carried out Operation Beach Boys.[8] For its actions during the war, the unit under his command received a unit citation from the commander of the Central Command, Gadi Shamni.[9] He later led the unit in operations in the Gaza Strip.[10] In 2008, he concluded his role. In 2009, he was appointed Operations Officer (Katzin Agam) of the Judea and Samaria Division and served in this position until 2011, while also completing the IDF Battalion Commanders Course.[11]

In 2011, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and appointed commander of 226th Brigade,[12] while simultaneously serving as commander of a training program in the IDF Battalion Commanders Course. He held these positions until 2013. On May 16, 2013, he was appointed commander of the Paratroopers Brigade,[13] leading the brigade during Operation Brother's Keeper[14] and Operation Protective Edge.[15][16] During the operation, his brigade killed 141 terrorists in close combat and directed artillery fire that killed an additional 70 terrorists. They uncovered 47 combat tunnels and four offensive tunnels, and arrested seven terrorists.[17] Nine soldiers from the brigade were killed during the fighting. He concluded his role on July 1, 2015.

On September 3, 2015, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General,[18] and on September 8, he assumed the role of the Military Secretary to the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He served in this position until August 16, 2018. On October 24, 2018, he was appointed commander of the Gaza Division.[19] He held the role until August 2, 2020.

Commander of the Southern Command

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Rank awarding ceremony for Eliezer Toledano, March 2021, at the Ben-Gurion House in Tel Aviv.

On March 14, 2021, he was promoted to the rank of Major General, and on March 21, he assumed command of the Southern Command.[20][21] He was an active participant in defining the sectoral security concept, particularly in the "Hourglass Plan" and the smart fence around the Gaza Strip.[22] In May 2021, he led the command during Operation Guardian of the Walls,[23] a round of fighting against terrorist organizations in Gaza, primarily Hamas, which lasted for 12 days and struck at the military infrastructure of the terrorist organizations. Most of the offensive military activity was carried out through surgical airstrikes over the Strip, while thwarting infiltration attempts by terrorist squads by the Gaza Division.[24] On May 14, 2021, Operation Lightning Strike was executed, aimed at trapping hundreds of Hamas terrorists in tunnels (the "Metro" system) and eliminating them while they were holed up using advanced capabilities developed by the Air Force. The operation, originally designed for use in a broader strategic framework, was developed over years and relied on the element of surprise.[25] The Southern Command Intelligence Officer warned in time that the ground deception had failed, but the operation proceeded regardless and did not achieve its goals, with the impact on Hamas being minimal. In an interview months later, Toledano admitted: "Few were killed in the Metro... fewer than I had hoped."[26]

Following the operation, 2022 saw the quietest year in the Gaza envelope since 2005.[27] In August 2022, the quiet was broken with the launch of Operation Breaking Dawn, which focused on fighting the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, not Hamas. The three-day operation reflected Toledano's operational approach, with Israel initiating a preemptive strike on the terrorist organization while imposing a lockdown on Gaza border towns to protect civilians.[28] During the operation, targeted killings were carried out on the military commanders of the organization, Taysir al-Jabari and Khaled Mansour.[29][30] In November that year, after being exposed to a possible Hamas surprise attack scenario called "Jericho Wall," Toledano held a classified discussion where he expressed his view that the ceasefire approach with the Gaza terrorist organizations was bound to fail, and that in his opinion, Israel would need to initiate a preemptive strike: "Since any campaign has a price, as long as the significant military advantage is maintained, we will seek to delay the next war. But along the timeline and enemy advancements, there comes a point where we will need to initiate a preemptive strike."[31][32] He also supported the targeted killing of the Gaza Strip leader Yahya Sinwar as a preliminary Israeli move.[33] Toledano's warnings, along with various alerts regarding the threat of a Hamas surprise attack, conflicted with the assessment of Military Intelligence and the Shin Bet, which believed that the organization was "deterred," influencing public discourse following the surprise attack on Israel.

On May 3, 2023, his appointment as head of the Strategic and Third-Circle Division was approved, which included responsibility for the Iranian arena. A week later, he led Operation Shield and Arrow, which began following rocket fire towards Israel a few days earlier and opened with three simultaneous targeted assassinations of senior Islamic Jihad officials. The operation lasted five days before a ceasefire was achieved. On June 3, the Egypt–Israel border shooting occurred in his sector,[34] after which Toledano met with senior Egyptian Army officials in Cairo for a joint investigation.[35] Following the conclusions drawn from the incident investigation, the regional brigade commander was dismissed. On July 9, he handed over command of the Southern Command to Major General Yaron Finkelman.

Head of Strategic Division

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On September 26, 2023, Toledano assumed his role as head of the Strategic and Third-Circle Division.[36] Two weeks later, the 2023 Israel–Hamas war began, during which he participated in planning the course of the war and attended the Israeli war cabinet meetings. In December, he traveled to the Pentagon to coordinate with the United States Department of Defense regarding the continuation of the war.[37] During the war, he was responsible for coordinating the joint international defense system over Israel on the night of April 14, 2024, during the Iranian attack on Israel (April 2024). Following the resignation of Military Intelligence chief Aharon Haliva, Prime Minister Netanyahu considered appointing Toledano to the position,[38] but ultimately Shlomi Binder was appointed as the Chief of Staff’s nominee, promoted to the rank of Major General.

Personal life and education

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Toledano lives in the moshav of Beit Gamliel, is married to Merav, and is the father of five children. He holds a bachelor's degree in Philosophy and Economics and a master's degree in History and National Security, both from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

External sources

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References

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  1. ^ Gal Perl, Finkel (6 October 2018). "Don't 'poke the bear' in Syria". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 7 October 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  2. ^ Gross, Judah Ari (11 February 2021). "Current IDF operations chief tapped to lead Military Intelligence". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  3. ^ Fabian, Emanuel (3 May 2023). "IDF announces a series of appointments to General Staff". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  4. ^ Bohbot, Amir (24 September 2014). "Special: The Battalion Commanders Who Will Compete for a Seat in the General Staff". Walla! (in Hebrew).
  5. ^ Greenberg, Hanan (24 January 2006). "Battalion Commander in Hebron to Mofaz: It Was Easier in Balata". Ynet (in Hebrew).
  6. ^ Wolf, Nir (17 June 2011). "The Maglan and the Sword". Israel Hayom (in Hebrew).
  7. ^ Finkel, Gal Perl (14 April 2019). "A Great Commander Makes Up for All Shortcomings with His Spirit". Walla (in Hebrew).
  8. ^ Kotes-Bar, Chen (12 September 2007). "The Rocket Hunters". Maariv (in Hebrew).
  9. ^ "Unit Citation - Maglan Unit" (in Hebrew). Gvura.
  10. ^ Finkel, Gal Perl (April 2021). "The General Staff – "A Body Specializing in Management and Decision Making"". Strategic Assessment (in Hebrew). 24 (2).
  11. ^ Greenberg, Hanan (18 April 2011). "The Battalion Commanders of the Lebanon War Are Being Upgraded". Ynet (in Hebrew).
  12. ^
  13. ^ Cohen, Gili (12 November 2012). "The New Commanders of Givati and the Paratroopers: From the Religious-Zionist Sector". Haaretz (in Hebrew).
  14. ^ Bohbot, Amir (22 June 2014). "Paratroopers Brigade Commander: "The Soldiers Aren't Asking When We're Going Home"". Walla (in Hebrew).
  15. ^ ""Strike the Enemy, Strike Again." Paratroopers Brigade Commander's Speech". Ynet (in Hebrew). 18 July 2014.
  16. ^ Zino, Aviram (31 July 2014). "Makor Rishon Reporter Joined the Paratroopers: "They Have Also Improved Since Cast Lead"". Maariv (in Hebrew).
  17. ^ Bohbot, Amir (5 August 2014). "Documentation: Parting from Gaza with the Explosion of a Tunnel "In Memory of the Fallen"". Walla (in Hebrew).
  18. ^ "The New Appointment of Brigadier General Toledano". Walla (in Hebrew). 3 July 2017.
  19. ^ Bohbot, Amir (3 July 2017). "IDF Appointments: Military Secretary to the Government Appointed Gaza Division Commander". Walla (in Hebrew).
  20. ^ "A Kippah-wearing General in the General Staff: Eliezer Toledano Promoted to Major General". Arutz 7 (in Hebrew). 11 February 2021.
  21. ^ ""We Will Not Let the Decision of the International Criminal Court Undermine Us"". IDF (in Hebrew). 21 March 2021.
  22. ^ Yoeli, Ari (7 December 2021). "After 3.5 Years: The Construction of the Fence in the Gaza Strip Is Completed". Srugim (in Hebrew).
  23. ^ Tsuri, Matan (12 May 2021). "Southern Command Chief: "Be Prepared for Fire Across All Parts of the Country". Documentation: IDF Demolishes Tower in Gaza". Ynet (in Hebrew). {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ Lior, Yoav (25 November 2021). "Southern Command Chief in First Interview: "For Hamas to Lose the Next Conflict, We Need to Panic Less"". Israel Hayom (in Hebrew).
  25. ^ Lav-Ram, Tal (12 April 2022). "The Deception Exercise to Destroy Hamas Tunnels: Former Chief of Staff Eisenkot Reexamines the Controversial Operation". Maariv (in Hebrew).
  26. ^ Dayan, Ilana (12 April 2022). "Fact Exposure: The Secret Document on the Operation to Destroy Hamas Tunnels". Mako (in Hebrew).
  27. ^ "Kochavi: This Is the Quietest Year in Gaza in 15 Years". Srugim (in Hebrew). 15 April 2022.
  28. ^ Amir, Noam (9 August 2022). "80 Hours of Preparation, 66 Hours of Operation: Behind the Scenes of "Breaking Dawn"". Makor Rishon (in Hebrew).
  29. ^ "IDF Spokesperson Confirms: At Least 15 Terrorists Killed, Including Senior Islamic Jihad Leader Taysir al-Jabari". Arutz 7 (in Hebrew). 5 August 2022.
  30. ^
  31. ^ "The Southern Commander's Recommendation a Year Before the Massacre". Arutz 7 (in Hebrew). 7 January 2024.
  32. ^ "Southern Command Chief Suggested Preemptive Strike Before the Massacre". Srugim (in Hebrew). 7 January 2024.
  33. ^ Amit, Avi (6 March 2024). "How Aviv Kochavi Personally Blocked the Assassination of Sinwar". Haaretz (in Hebrew).
  34. ^ Lav-Ram, Tal (3 June 2023). "Southern Command Chief on the Incident at the Egypt Border: "No Connection to the Rules of Engagement"". Maariv (in Hebrew).
  35. ^ Kovovitch, Yaniv (11 June 2023). "Southern Command Chief Met with Senior Egyptian Army Officials in Cairo Following the Killing of the Soldiers at the Border". Haaretz (in Hebrew).
  36. ^
  37. ^ Ravid, Barak (12 December 2023). "Senior Defense Officials Are in Washington for Talks on the Continuation of the War and the Day After". Walla (in Hebrew).
  38. ^ Yaari, Ehud (29 April 2024). "First Report: PM Netanyahu Wants to Appoint Major General Eliezer Toledano as Head of Military Intelligence to Replace Haliva". Mako (in Hebrew).
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