Shmuel Zakai

Who is Shmuel Zakai?

Shmuel Zakai is an Israeli Brigadier-General who was forcibly discharged from the Israel Defense Forces in November 2004 by order of Chief of Staff Moshe Yaalon.

Zakai resigned as commander of the IDF's Gaza Division, a position he had held since March 2004, after failing a polygraph test during an investigation into leaks to the Israeli media during the Days of Penitence operation in the northern Gaza Strip in October 2004. Zakai was accused of leaking reports to the media that the IDF wanted to end the operation before the political echelon did.

After resigning as head of the Gaza Division, Zakai was removed from the IDF altogether after 24 years of service, with Yaalon saying that his actions had constituted "an abandonment of a division during combat." He was replaced by Aviv Kochavi, a former commander of the Paratroopers Brigade.

Zakai's previous positions include:

2002–2004: Commander, Edom Division

1999–2001: Commander, Golani infantry brigade

1998–1999: Commander, Hiram Formation

1995–1996: Battalion commander, IDF Officer's School

1993–1994: Deputy commander, Hiram Formation

1981–1994: Served various positions in Golani Brigade, up to battalion commander.