Editing Moshe Ya'alon

{{short description|Israeli general and politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Moshe Ya'alon
| native_name         = {{Nobold|{{Script/Hebrew|משה יעלון}}}}
| image               = Moshe Ya'alon (cropped).jpg
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1950|06|24|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Kiryat Haim]], [[Haifa]], [[Haifa District]], [[Israel]]
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| office1             = Ministerial roles
| suboffice1          = [[Israeli Vice Prime Minister|Vice Prime Minister]]
| subterm1            = 2009–2013
| suboffice2          = [[Strategic Affairs Minister of Israel|Minister of Strategic Affairs]]
| subterm2            = 2009–2013
| suboffice3          = [[Ministry of Defense (Israel)|Minister of Defense]]
| subterm3            = 2013–2016
| office4             = Faction represented in the [[Knesset]]
| suboffice4          = [[Likud]]
| subterm4            = 2009–2016
| suboffice5          = [[Blue and White (political alliance)|Blue and White]]
| subterm5            = 2019–2020
| suboffice6          = [[Telem (2019 political party)|Telem]]
| subterm6            = 2020–2021
| office7             = Military roles
| suboffice7          = Head of [[Military Intelligence Directorate (Israel)|Aman]]
| subterm7            = 1995–1998
| suboffice8          = Head of [[Central Command (Israel)|Central Command]]
| subterm8            = 1998–2000
| suboffice9          = {{nowrap|Deputy [[Chief of the General Staff (Israel)|Chief of General Staff]]}}
| subterm9            = 1999–2002
| suboffice10         = [[Chief of the General Staff (Israel)|Chief of General Staff]]
| subterm10           = 2002–2005
| nickname            = Bogie
| allegiance          = {{flag|Israel}}
| branch              = {{armed forces|Israel}}
| serviceyears        = 1968–2005
| rank                = [[File:IDF rav aluf rotated.svg|30px]] [[Israel Defense Forces ranks|Rav Aluf]]
| unit                = 
| commands            = *[[Sayeret Matkal]]
*[[Paratroopers Brigade]]
*[[West Bank Division]]
*[[Military Intelligence Directorate (Israel)|AMAN]]
*[[Central Command (Israel)|Central Command]]
*[[Chief of General Staff (Israel)|Chief of General Staff]]
| battles             = *[[War of Attrition]]
*[[Yom Kippur War]]
*[[Operation Litani]]
*[[1982 Lebanon War]]
*[[South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000)|South Lebanon conflict]]
*[[First Intifada]]
*[[Second Intifada]]
*[[Operation Protective Edge]]
| awards              = [[Legion of Merit]]
| relations           = 
}}

'''Moshe''' "'''Bogie'''" '''Ya'alon''' ({{langx|he|משה יעלון}}; born '''Moshe Smilansky'''; 24 June 1950) is an Israeli politician and former [[Chief of General Staff (Israel)|Chief of Staff]] of the [[Israel Defense Forces]], who also served as Israel's Defense Minister under [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] from 2013 until his resignation on 20 May 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/21/world/middleeast/moshe-yaalon-israeli-defense-minister-resigns.html|title=Moshe Yaalon, Israeli Defense Minister, Resigns|work=The New York Times|first1=James|last1=Glanz|first2=Irit|last2=Pazner Garshowitz|date=20 May 2016|access-date=11 December 2024}}</ref> Ya'alon ran for [[Knesset]] in 2019 as the number three member of the [[Blue and White (political alliance)|Blue and White]] party, a joint list created by the merging of the [[Israel Resilience Party]], led by former IDF chief of staff [[Benny Gantz]], and [[Yesh Atid]], led by [[Yair Lapid]].<ref name="staff">{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/united-gantz-lapid-party-to-be-called-blue-and-white-no-women-in-top-6/|title=United Gantz-Lapid party to be called 'Blue and White'; no women in top 6|last=staff|first=T. O. I.|website=www.timesofisrael.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-21}}</ref> Ya'alon briefly served as the number 2 on the [[Yesh Atid-Telem]] list that was created following the [[2020 Israeli legislative election]]. Ya'alon retired from politics in the lead up to the [[2021 Israeli legislative election|2021 election]] after testing the waters by splitting his [[Telem (2019 political party)|Telem]] party from [[Yesh Atid]].

==Early life ==
Ya'alon was born Moshe Smilansky, the son of David Smilansky and Batya Silber. His father, a factory worker, had moved to [[Mandatory Palestine]] with his parents from [[Soviet Ukraine]] in 1925, and was a veteran of the [[Haganah]] and [[Jewish Brigade]]. His mother was a [[Holocaust survivor]] from [[Galicia (Eastern Europe)|Galicia]] who had fought against the Nazis with [[Jewish partisans|partisans]] during [[World War II]]. She came to Palestine in 1946.<ref name=speakers>{{cite web |author=JFNA |url=http://www.generalassembly.org/speakers/bio/minister-moshe-bogie-yaalon |title=Minister Moshe (Bogie) Ya'alon |publisher=Generalassembly.org |access-date=25 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924021410/http://www.generalassembly.org/speakers/bio/minister-moshe-bogie-yaalon |archive-date=24 September 2015  }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cyberweek.tau.ac.il/2015/index.php/speakers/223-speaker-152|title=Moshe (Bogie) Ya'alon|website=cyberweek.tau.ac.il}}</ref> Ya'alon grew up in [[Kiryat Haim]], a working-class suburb of [[Haifa]]. He was active in the [[Labor Zionism|Labor Zionist]] youth movement "[[HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed]]" and joined a [[Nahal]] group named Ya'alon, a name he later adopted.<ref>Ya'alon is widely known by his nickname, "Boogie" (also sometimes spelled "Bogie" or "Bogey" in English) {{cite news|agency=Associated Press|title=Knesset Gives Final OK to Gaza Pullout Plan|date=15 February 2005|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/knesset-gives-final-ok-to-gaza-pullout-plan|work=Fox News|access-date=20 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725181248/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,147749,00.html|archive-date=25 July 2008|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{cite news|url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1249418649856&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull|newspaper=Jerusalem Post|date=19 August 2009|title=Netanyahu summons Ya'alon over comments|author=Gil Hoffman}}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He later moved to kibbutz [[Grofit]], in the [[Arabah|Arava]] region near [[Eilat]], where he worked in the cowshed and as a tractor operator.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.walla.co.il/item/2782494|title=כשהתחזית על מלחמה בקיץ מתממשת - וואלה! חדשות|date=4 September 2014|website=וואלה!}}</ref>

==Military career==
[[File:Moshe Ya'alon, 1967.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Moshe Ya'alon's IDF induction photo, 1967]]
[[File:Moshe «Bogie» Yaalon, Chief of General Staff.jpg|thumb|upright|Moshe Ya'alon as Chief of General Staff]]
In 1968, Ya'alon was conscripted into the [[Israel Defense Forces]], and volunteered as a paratrooper in the [[Paratroopers Brigade]]. He served as a soldier and a [[squad leader]] in the brigade's 50 battalion and fought in the [[War of Attrition]]. He was discharged in 1971.<ref>Gal Perl Finkel, [https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Its-the-man-or-woman-who-makes-the-job-572292 It's the man (or woman) who makes the job], [[The Jerusalem Post]], 19 November 2018.</ref>

In 1973, he was called up as a reservist during the [[Yom Kippur War]]. On 15 October 1973, his unit, the [[55th Paratroopers Brigade]], became the first IDF unit to cross the [[Suez Canal]] into mainland [[Egypt]]. He continued fighting as part of the Israeli drive into the Egyptian mainland; he participated in the encirclement of the Egyptian Third Army. Following the war, he rejoined the IDF as a career soldier, and became an infantry officer after completing [[Officer Candidate School]]. He then returned to the Paratroopers Brigade as a [[platoon leader]]. Later on he served as a [[company commander]] in the brigade's 50 battalion and led the brigade's [[Reconnaissance]] company in several special operations and during [[Operation Litani]].<ref name=speakers/>

During the [[1982 Lebanon War]], Ya'alon joined the [[Sayeret Matkal]] commando unit as a commander. He then rejoined the Paratroopers Brigade and was appointed as the commander of its 890 "Efe" (Echis) paratroop battalion. During this time, he was wounded in the leg while leading a pursuit of [[Hezbollah]] fighters in Lebanon.<ref name=speakers/>

Ya'alon took a [[sabbatical]] to the United Kingdom to study at the British Army's [[Staff College, Camberley|Camberley Staff College]]. Upon his return to Israel, he was promoted to the rank of colonel and appointed commander of Sayeret Matkal. Ya'alon led it to many notable achievements, for which the unit received four recommendations of honor. After his tenure as commander was finished, Ya'alon studied at the [[University of Haifa]], obtaining a [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] in Political Science, and took an [[Armored Corps (Israel)|Armored Corps]] course. In 1990, Ya'alon was appointed commander of the Paratroopers Brigade,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-1763308,00.html|title=ynet אל תצפו למהפכה - חדשות|work=ynet|access-date=20 May 2016}}</ref> and two years later, became commander of the Judea and Samaria Division. On 10 December 1992, Ya'alon killed a militant from the [[Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine]] with a hand grenade after the militant had shot dead a [[Yamam]] operative attempting to arrest him.<ref>Moshe (Bogie) Ya'alon, ''דרך ארוכה קצרה The Longer Shorter Way''. Yediot Books (2008), pp.227–228.</ref> In 1993, he was appointed commander of an IDF training base, and commander of an armored division. In 1995, Ya'alon was promoted to major general and appointed head of [[Military Intelligence Directorate (Israel)|Military Intelligence]]. In 1998, he was appointed commanding officer of [[Central Command (Israel)|Israel's Central Command]]. He was serving in this position when the [[Second Intifada]] was launched in September 2000.

Ya'alon was appointed [[Chief of General Staff (Israel)|Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces]] (IDF) on 9 July 2002, and served in that position until 1 June 2005. The major focus throughout his tenure as chief of staff was the army's effort to quell the [[Second Intifada]]. Under his watch, the IDF conducted [[Operation Defensive Shield]].

In February 2005, Defense Minister [[Shaul Mofaz]] decided not to extend Ya'alon's service as chief of staff for another year. This marked the climax of tensions between Mofaz and Ya'alon, which had arisen partly through Ya'alon's objection to the [[Israeli disengagement from Gaza|Gaza disengagement plan]]. On 1 June 2005, Ya'alon retired from the army, and [[Dan Halutz]], his successor as chief of staff, oversaw the disengagement.

In December 2005, relatives of the victims of the [[1996 shelling of Qana]] filed a suit against Ya'alon in Washington, D.C., for his alleged role in their deaths.<ref>[http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1134309589087&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull Lawsuit filed against Ya'alon in US court]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''[[The Jerusalem Post]]''</ref> In late 2006, while Ya'alon was in [[New Zealand]] on a private fund-raising trip for the [[Jewish National Fund]], [[Auckland]] [[District Courts of New Zealand|District Court]] judge [[Avinash Deobhakta]] issued a warrant for his arrest for alleged [[war crime]]s arising from his role in the 2002 assassination of [[Hamas]] commander [[Salah Shehade]], who was killed in a [[Targeted killings by Israel Defense Forces|targeted assassination]], when an Israeli warplane bombed his home in [[Gaza City]]. About 14 Palestinian civilians were also killed in the airstrike.<ref name="NZ2"/> Deobhakta stated that New Zealand had an obligation to prosecute him under the [[Geneva Convention]]. [[Attorney-General (New Zealand)|Attorney-General]] [[Michael Cullen (politician)|Michael Cullen]] ordered a stay in the warrant after advice from the Crown Law office that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute, and the warrant was cancelled after Ya'alon left New Zealand.<ref name="NZ2">{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10413558|title=Ex-Israeli army chief praises NZ for wiping arrest warrant|work=The New Zealand Herald|date=3 December 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/new-zealand-cancels-ya-alon-warrant-after-he-leaves-1.205962|title=New Zealand Cancels Ya'alon Warrant After He Leaves|work=Haaretz.com|access-date=20 May 2016}}</ref><ref name="NZ1">{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10413310|title=Government overrules war-crimes arrest order|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald|first1=David|last1=Eames|first2=Ruth|last2=Berry|date=1 December 2006}}</ref>

He was appointed [[Ministry of Defense (Israel)|Minister of Defense]] on 17 March 2013.<ref name="Netanyahu">{{cite news|title=Netanyahu picks ex-general Yaalon as new Israeli defense chief|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-defence-yaalon-idUSBRE92G03T20130317|publisher=Reuters|access-date=17 March 2013|date=17 March 2013}}</ref> During his tenure, the IDF conducted [[2014 Israel-Gaza War|Operation Protective Edge]]. He resigned on 20 May 2016, citing "difficult disagreements on moral and professional matters" with prime minister Netanyahu and warning that "extreme and dangerous elements have taken over Israel and the Likud Party".<ref>{{cite news|title=Israel's new defence minister|url=https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21699295-israels-government-swings-further-right-netanyahu-names-new-defence-minister|access-date=22 May 2016|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|date=20 May 2016}}</ref>

==Political career==
[[File:Yaalon Nicholson Hagel cropped.JPG|thumb|Ya'alon with [[Rob Nicholson]], [[Minister of National Defence (Canada)|Canadian Minister of National Defence]], and [[Chuck Hagel]], [[United States Secretary of Defense|US Secretary of Defense]], at the [[Halifax International Security Forum]] 2013]]
[[File:Israeli defence minister Moshe Ya'alon meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.jpg|thumb|Ya'alon meeting with Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]], 2015]]
[[File:Ash Carter meets Moshe Ya'alon at National Defense University, Washington D.C., Oct. 27, 2015 (22343405400)a.jpg|thumb|Israeli Minister of Defense Moshe Ya'alon speaks after meeting Ash Carter, 2015]]
Ya'alon backed the [[Oslo Accords]], but later he "admitted his mistake."<ref>{{Cite news|title        =New Israeli Defense Minister No Threat to Netanyahu's Policies|newspaper =Al-Monitor|date        =March 2013|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/ar/originals/2013/03/who-is-the-new-defense-minister-moshe-yaalon.html|access-date  = 19 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019024603/http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/ar/originals/2013/03/who-is-the-new-defense-minister-moshe-yaalon.html|archive-date = 19 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 17 November 2008, Ya'alon announced that he was joining [[Likud]] and that he would participate in the primaries which would determine the Likud candidates for the [[2009 Israeli legislative election|2009 elections]].<ref name="ynet">{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3625081,00.html|title=Yaalon: Withdrawals Must End|work=[[Ynetnews]]|author=Meranda, Amnon|date=18 November 2008|access-date=19 November 2008}}</ref> He won eighth place on the party's list,<ref name=likudprimary>{{Cite news|title=Likud primary results for February 10th national elections|newspaper=Haaretz|access-date=9 December 2008|date=9 December 2008|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1045004.html}}</ref> and entered the Knesset as Likud won 27 seats. Upon the formation of the [[Benjamin Netanyahu|Netanyahu]] government, he was appointed [[Israeli Vice Prime Minister|Vice Prime Minister]] (alongside [[Silvan Shalom]]) and [[Strategic Affairs Minister of Israel|Minister of Strategic Affairs]]. In March 2013, he replaced [[Ehud Barak]] as [[Ministry of Defense (Israel)|Defense Minister]].<ref name="Netanyahu" />

In January 2015, the leader of [[Lehava]] anti-assimilation group, [[Ben-Zion Gopstein]], voiced harsh criticism against Ya'alon after Channel 2 reported that he was expected to categorize Lehava as a terrorist organization. Ya'alon ordered the [[Shin Bet]] and the Defense Ministry to assemble evidence required for the classification. Lehava promotes the ideology of the late [[Jewish Defense League]] leader [[Meir Kahane]]. Three members of Lehava were arrested and indicted in 2014 for committing arson and spray-painting anti-Arab graffiti at the Max Rayne [[Hand in Hand: Center for Jewish-Arab Education in Israel|Hand in Hand]] (Yad B'Yad) Bilingual School in Jerusalem and Lehava's leader Ben Zion Gopstein along with other group members were arrested shortly thereafter for incitement.<ref>[http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Report-Yaalon-looks-to-designate-anti-assimilation-group-Lehava-a-terrorist-organization-386649 "Report: Ya'alon moves to name anti-assimilation group Lehava a terrorist organization"] (4 Jan 2015) ''The Jerusalem Post''</ref> The arson incident received international attention.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2014/12/19/real-festival-lights-hanukkah-white-house-20145775|title=A Real Festival of Lights: Hanukkah at the White House 2014/5775|website=obamawhitehouse.archives.gov|date=19 December 2014|access-date=10 December 2024}}</ref> Gopstein said "I suggest that [Ya'alon] aim to outlaw the Islamist Movement and then preoccupy itself with an anti-assimilation group... Instead of taking care of an enemy of Israel, the defense minister is trying to win over votes from the Left [by] taking on Lehava. The group acts to save the daughters of Israel [Jewish women] and deserves the Israel Prize."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/anti-assimilation-group-could-be-classified-as-terrorist/|title=Anti-assimilation group could be classified as terrorist|work=[[The Times of Israel]]|date=4 January 2015|access-date=10 December 2024}}</ref>

In February 2015 Ya'alon took a political stand on gay marriage. In a speech he promised to help promote LGBT rights in Israel, and in particular noted he would support the establishment of civil marriage laws in Israel that would allow same-sex couples to be recognized as a family unit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/yaalon-voices-support-for-same-sex-marriage-in-israel/|title=Ya'alon backs same-sex marriage in Israel|work=The Times of Israel|date=7 February 2015|access-date=10 December 2024}}</ref>

Following the 2016 shooting by an Israeli soldier of a wounded Palestinian assailant, Ya'alon said that the soldier's action "completely contradicts IDF values and its battle ethics; even in a moment of great anger we must not permit such unbridled and uncontrolled behavior."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/25/world/middleeast/video-shows-israel-soldier-shooting-palestinian.html|title=Israel Soldier Detained in Shooting of Palestinian (Published 2016)|first=Isabel|last=Kershner|newspaper=The New York Times|date=24 March 2016}}</ref> This statement was viewed by many Israelis as prejudging the case.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/21/world/middleeast/moshe-yaalon-israeli-defense-minister-resigns.html|title=Moshe Yaalon, Israeli Defense Minister, Resigns (Published 2016)|first1=James|last1=Glanz|first2=Irit Pazner|last2=Garshowitz|newspaper=The New York Times|date=20 May 2016}}</ref>

Ya'alon formed [[Telem (2019 political party)|Telem]] on 2 January 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/former-defense-chief-yaalon-launches-new-political-party-telem/|title=Former defense chief Ya'alon launches new political party, Telem|work=[[The Times of Israel]]|date=2 January 2019|first=Raoul|last=Wootliff|access-date=2 December 2024}}</ref>

On January 29, 2019, Ya'alon announced a political alliance with former IDF chief of staff [[Benny Gantz]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/breaking-political-silence-gantz-indicates-he-wont-serve-under-indicted-pm/|title=Launching bid to replace Netanyahu, Gantz vows to unify Israel, end incitement|work=The Times of Israel|language=en-US|date=2019-01-29|access-date=2024-12-02}}</ref> Ya'alon was in the number two position on Gantz's [[Israel Resilience Party]] list. Ya'alon reiterated his opposition to a "two states for two peoples" solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/joining-forces-with-gantz-yaalon-rules-out-support-for-two-state-solution/|title=Joining forces with Gantz, Ya'alon rules out support for two-state solution|first1=Raoul|last1=Wootliff|first2=Alexander|last2=Fulbright|work=The Times of Israel|date=2019-01-29|language=en-US|access-date=2024-12-02}}</ref> On 21 February 2019, the Israel Resilience Party and Telem merged with [[Yesh Atid]]. Ya'alon became the number three candidate on the united list, known as the "Blue and White" party.<ref name="staff"/> Following the party's split after the [[2020 Israeli legislative election]], Ya'alon's party aligned with [[Yair Lapid]] to form the [[Yesh Atid-Telem]] alliance and became second in the list.

In the run up to the [[2021 Israeli legislative election]], Ya'alon's party split from [[Yesh Atid]]. After multiple polls showing the party unable to pass the 3.5 percent election threshold{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}, Ya'alon decided to quit the race.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/295996|title=Telem chief Moshe Yaalon drops out of Knesset race|work=[[Arutz Sheva]]|first=Hezki|last=Baruch|access-date=1 February 2021|date=1 February 2021}}</ref>

In 2023, Ya'alon called the Israeli government a "dictatorship of criminals", due to the national security minister [[Itamar Ben Gvir]] calling on the police to "strike protestors" as well as [[2023 Israeli judicial reform|proposed judicial reforms]] that would give the government more control over judicial appointments.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Keller-Lynn |first1=Carrie |title=At Tel Aviv protest, Ya'alon calls Netanyahu's government a 'dictatorship of criminals' |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/at-tel-aviv-protest-yaalon-calls-netanyahus-government-a-dictatorship-of-criminals/ |access-date=24 July 2023 |work=Times of Israel |date=21 January 2023}}</ref>

In 2024, Ya'alon accused the Israeli government of committing ethnic cleansings in the Gaza Strip, and said that the IDF is no longer the most moral army in the world.<ref name="Times">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/01/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-yaalon.html|title=Former Defense Minister Accuses Israel of Committing War Crimes in Gaza|last=Rasgon|first=Adam|date=2024-01-01|work=The New York Times|last2=Stack|first2=Liam|last3=Odenheimer|first3=Natan|access-date=2 November 2024}}</ref>

==Controversial statements==

===Palestinian threat as 'cancer'===
On 27 August 2002, Ya'alon told ''[[Haaretz]]'': "The Palestinian threat harbors cancer-like attributes that have to be severed. There are all kinds of solutions to cancer. Some say it's necessary to amputate organs but at the moment I am applying chemotherapy."<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/the-enemy-within-1.35604 The enemy within], [[Ha'aretz]], 29 August 2002</ref> The same month he said "the Palestinians must be made to understand in the deepest recesses of their consciousness that they are a defeated people".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Shalhūb-Kīfūrkiyān |first1=Nādirah |title=Militarization and Violence Against Women in Conflict Zones in the Middle East A Palestinian Case-Study |date=2009 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |page=5}}</ref>

In January 2004, Ya'alon publicly stated that the thirteen [[Sayeret Matkal]] soldiers who refused to serve in the [[Israeli-occupied territories]] were taking the unit's name in vain.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}

===Iran===
In January 2008, during a discussion at [[Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya|IDC Herzliya]], Ya'alon said "There is no way to stabilize the situation all over the world and especially in the Middle East without confronting [[Iran]]."<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20080610002241/http://www.thecollegezionist.org/20067issue/yaalon.html Interview with Former IDF Chief-of-Staff Moshe Yaalon]}}, ''The College Zionist''</ref> According to ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]'' Ya'alon said: "We have to confront the Iranian revolution immediately. There is no way to stabilize the Middle East today without defeating the Iranian [government]. The Iranian nuclear program must be stopped."

When asked whether "all options" included a military deposition of [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]] and the rest of Iran's current leadership, Ya'alon told ''The Herald'': "We have to consider killing him. All options must be considered."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/paul-sheehan/israeli-hawks-ready-to-fly-on-iran/2008/11/23/1227375056994.html|title=Israeli hawks ready to fly on Iran|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|first=Paul|last=Sheehan|date=24 November 2008|access-date=11 December 2024}}</ref>

===The Peace Now/'virus' incident===
In August 2009, Ya'alon visited the ruins of [[Homesh]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1108228.html|title=Ya'alon Calls on State to Drop 'Illegal' Qualifier From Outposts|work=Haaretz|first=Chaim|last=Levinson|date=18 August 2009|access-date=11 December 2024}}</ref> a settlement that was destroyed in [[Israeli disengagement from Gaza]] in 2005 and toured Israeli settlements in the north of the West Bank, considered as un-authorized outposts. He said that these communities are all legitimate and should not be called "illegal."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fr.jpost.com/Tags/satellite|title=Satellite News and latest stories &#124; The Jerusalem Post|website=fr.jpost.com}}</ref> In addition, he participated in a convention of [[Manhigut Yehudit]] ("Jewish Leadership"), the more right-wing Settlers' segment within the [[Likud]] right-wing Party, in which he condemned the disengagement plan, called [[Peace Now]] a "virus"<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSLJ180639 | work=Reuters | title=Israeli minister calls anti-settler group a "virus" | date=19 August 2009}}</ref><ref name=Sharon>Ro`i Sharon, [http://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART1/931/888.html "יעלון: יהודים צריכים להתיישב בכל מקום בארץ ישראל"], ''[[Maariv]]'', 19 August 2009.</ref> and said that "We become accustomed to Arabs being permitted to live everywhere, in the [[Negev]], [[Galilee]], [[Nablus]], [[Jenin]], and [on the other hand] there are areas where Jews are not allowed to live. We caused this." He also stated that, "regarding the issue of the settlements, in my opinion Jews can and should live everywhere in the [[Land of Israel]]. Now, ... first of all, every settlement needs to get the approval of the authorities, and what goes up on the spot, in contradiction to these decisions and so on is not legitimate. It's against the law".<ref name=Sharon/>

Later, after meeting with Netanyahu, Ya'alon retracted parts of his statements and said that he "recognized the importance of democratic discourse and respecting other opinions."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1109024.html|title=Vice Premier Backtracks After Calling Peace Now, Elites 'A Virus'|work=Haaretz.com|access-date=20 May 2016}}</ref> Ya'alon explained that, indeed, all Israelis want ''peace, now''. He stressed, however, the need to accept the fact that peace will not come immediately, otherwise it "hurts Israel." Ya'alon stated that, in his view, the way of thinking that Israel just needs to give one more piece of land and ''then it will have peace'' is a kind of "virus."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSLJ180639|title=Israeli minister calls anti-settler group a "virus"|date=19 August 2009 |work=Reuters}}</ref>

===U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and U.S. engagement in the peace process===
In January 2014, Ya'alon was quoted in an Israeli newspaper calling U.S. Secretary of State [[John Kerry]] "obsessive" and "messianic," and claiming that the "only thing that can save us is if Kerry wins the [[Nobel Peace Prize|Nobel Prize]] and leaves us alone."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/14/israel-yaaolon-john-kerry_n_4594452.html | work=Huffington Post | title=Israel's Defense Minister Calls John Kerry Messianic And Obsessive | date=14 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Yaalon-criticized-for-reportedly-calling-Kerry-obsessive-messianic-338109|title=Ya'alon criticized for reportedly calling Kerry 'obsessive, messianic'|work=The Jerusalem Post - JPost.com|access-date=20 May 2016}}</ref> The remarks attributed to him precipitated a diplomatic row with the [[United States Department of State|U.S. State Department]] and elicited criticism of members of Israel's government. In October 2014, during a visit to the U.S. Ya'alon met with his counterpart, Defense Secretary [[Chuck Hagel]], but was denied requests to meet with then-Vice President [[Joe Biden]] and Kerry.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-officials-israel-defense-chief-denied-meetings/|title=US officials confirm: Israel defense chief denied meetings|work=The Times of Israel|date=25 October 2014|access-date=10 December 2024}}</ref> A U.S. official told ''[[The Jerusalem Post]]'' that the snub should come as no surprise.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Yaalon-snub-should-come-as-no-surprise-US-official-says-379737|title=Ya'alon snub 'should come as no surprise,' US official says|work=The Jerusalem Post - JPost.com|access-date=20 May 2016}}</ref>

===Segregation of buses===
In October 2014, Ya'alon supported a plan that would effectively ban Palestinian workers from buses used by Jewish settlers. Ya'alon said that his plan was based on security needs. The IDF said that there was no security issue with integrated buses given that all West Bank Palestinian workers go through security checkpoints.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/yaalon-said-to-effectively-separate-jewish-arab-bus-riders-in-wb/|title=Directive to keep returning West Bank workers off Israeli buses|work=The Times of Israel|first=Spencer|last=Ho|date=26 October 2014|access-date=20 May 2016}}</ref> When Ya'alon's move was criticized as being a form of apartheid, [[Yehuda Weinstein]], Israel's Attorney General, demanded that Ya'alon explain his rationale.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/11192479/Palestinian-apartheid-bus-row-escalates-as-Israeli-minister-Moshe-Yaalon-ordered-explain-ban.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | first=Robert | last=Tait | title=Palestinian 'apartheid' bus row escalates as Israeli minister Moshe Ya'alon ordered to explain ban | date=28 October 2014}}</ref>

===Resumption of settlement construction===
In late 2014 at a meeting with Jewish settlers on the West Bank who questioned Israel's apparent delay in settler construction, Ya'alon said that settlement construction represented the greatest growth in Israel and with regard to any apparent slowdown, he declared, "It's temporary. There is a certain administration now in the United States [[Presidency of Barack Obama|Obama administration]], which is leading this policy. This administration will not stay forever and I hope it's temporary." He commented that it is important for Israel not to antagonize the U.S. at the moment, because  American support is needed in countering diplomatic undertakings at the U.N. that he claimed were "anti-Israel." "The publication of construction plans, even in Jerusalem, draws a response from various bodies, including our friends, that attack us," he said. But he noted that he very much wanted to approve construction plans.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ya'alon: Obama administration 'won't be around forever'|date=10 December 2014|work=Ynet|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4601834,00.html|access-date=5 June 2022}}</ref> Ya'alon's remarks about not antagonizing the U.S. came at a time when an opinion poll showed that the "overwhelming majority" of Israelis believe their country's relationship with the U.S. has been hurt as a result of the poor relationship between Obama and Netanyahu.<ref>{{cite news|title=Poll: Most say poor Netanyahu - Obama ties are harmful|date=10 December 2014|work=The Jerusalem Post|url=http://www.jpost.com/Diplomatic-Conference/Poll-Most-say-poor-Netanyahu-Obama-ties-are-harmful-384189|first=Gil|last=Hoffman|access-date=5 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Winer|first=Stuart|title=Ya'alon: After Obama, a West Bank construction boom|date=10 December 2014|work=The Times of Israel|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/yaalon-after-obama-a-west-bank-construction-boom/|access-date=5 June 2022}}</ref> In response to the Ya'alon's remarks, which were broadcast of Israeli Army Radio, a spokesperson for Ya'alon claimed, "this does not diminish in any way the appreciation and esteem Minister Ya'alon has for the contribution of the U.S. and its government to the security of Israel and the fact that the U.S. is Israel's best friend and strategic anchor."<ref>{{cite news|last=Cesana|first=Shlomo|title=In final 2 years, Obama to seek Israeli-Palestinian peace|date=10 December 2014|work=Israel Hayom|url=http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=22037|access-date=5 June 2022}}</ref> Responding to the latest of Ya'alon negative comments about the Obama administration, U.S. State Department spokeswoman [[Jen Psaki]] said, "This administration's opposition to settlements is fully consistent with the policies of administrations for decades, including of both parties. So the notion that that would change is not borne out by history."<ref>{{cite news|work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|title=Yaalon: Settlement slowdown temporary since Obama only has two years left|date=12 December 2014|url=http://www.jta.org/2014/12/12/news-opinion/united-states/yaalon-settlement-slowdown-temporary-since-obama-only-has-two-years-left|access-date=5 June 2022}}</ref>

=== Israel–Hamas war ===
In an interview on November 30, 2024, Ya'alon stated, “We are being dragged into annexation and ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip.” When asked to clarify his use of the phrase "ethnic cleansing" and if he believed that was the direction the war was heading, Ya'alon replied, “Why say ‘heading’? What's happening there right now? Beit Lahiya is gone, Beit Hanoun is gone. Operations are underway in Jabalya, essentially clearing the area of Arabs.”<ref>{{cite news|work=The Jerusalem Post|title=Former defense minister Ya'alon: 'We are being dragged into ethnic cleansing in Gaza'|date=30 November 2024|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-831374|access-date=4 December 2024}}</ref>

The next day Ya'alon reasserted his comments during multiple interviews. When speaking about the government during an interview, he stated: “At the end of the day, they’re perpetrating war crimes.”<ref name="Times"/>

=== Netanyahu-Qatar Incident ===
On Mach 9, 2025, Ya'alon said in a radio interview on the Kan Bet channel hosted by Arieh Golan, that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received 10s of millions of dollars from Qatar. Following the interview, Netanayhu filed a defamation lawsuit against Ya'alon on March 11, 2025, stating that Ya'alon's claims are false and constitute "Horrific, ugly, malicious and baseless lies". In the lawsuit, Netanayhu is seeking 160,000 NIS in damages.

In response to the lawsuit, Ya'alon posted on his X account that  "I hear that Hamas's financier intends to sue me. Bring it on! Maybe this will be an opportunity for him to explain the suitcases of cash sent from Qatar to Hamas. Maybe he can address the fact that three of his closest aides were funded by Qatar".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-12 |title=Netanyahu sues former defense minister Moshe Ya'alon for defamation |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-845740 |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Ya'alon is married with three children. He and his wife live in [[Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut]]

==See also==
*[[Media coverage of the Arab–Israeli conflict]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
*[http://www.azure.org.il/article.php?id=137 "The IDF and the Israeli Spirit"], by Moshe Ya'alon, ''[[Azure (magazine)|Azure]]'' magazine, Spring 2006, no. 24
*[http://www.azure.org.il/article.php?id=474 "Israel and the Palestinians: A New Strategy"] by Moshe Ya'alon, ''[[Azure (magazine)|Azure]]'' magazine, Autumn 2008, no. 34
*[http://www.jcpa.org/JCPA/Templates/ShowPage.asp?DRIT=1&DBID=1&LNGID=1&TMID=111&FID=442&PID=0&IID=2515&TTL=A_New_Strategy_for_the_Israeli-Palestinian_Conflict "A New Strategy for the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303071848/http://www.jcpa.org/JCPA/Templates/ShowPage.asp?DRIT=1&DBID=1&LNGID=1&TMID=111&FID=442&PID=0&IID=2515&TTL=A_New_Strategy_for_the_Israeli-Palestinian_Conflict |date=3 March 2012 }}, by Moshe Ya'alon, [[Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs]], Vol. 8, No. 10, 2 September 2008

==External links==
{{Commons category|Moshe Ya'alon}}
{{Wikiquote|Moshe Yaalon}}
*{{MKlink|id=823}}
*[http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2002/11/Lieutenant-General%20Moshe%20Ya-alon Moshe Ya'alon], Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
*[http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1239710823345&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull "Taking stock"]{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Moshe Ya'alon profile and interview by Yaakov Katz, ''[[Jerusalem Post]]'', published 30 April 2009 & updated 7 May 2009 (Accessed 26 October 2011)

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ya'alon, Moshe}}
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