FIDF mourns the loss of the 15th IDF Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. (Res.) Amnon Lipkin-
Shahak Z”L. Lipkin-Shahak passed away on December 19th after a long-fought battle with cancer. FIDF
sends its condolences to his loved-ones in Israel and abroad.
Shahak Z”L. Lipkin-Shahak passed away on December 19th after a long-fought battle with cancer. FIDF
sends its condolences to his loved-ones in Israel and abroad.
Lipkin-Shahak began his military career in 1962 as a paratrooper and worked his way up the
ranks. During his service he received two Medals of Honor, one for his conduct in 1968’s Operation
Inferno, in Karameh, Jordan, and the second for his part in 1973’s Operation Spring of Youth, in Beirut,
Lebanon. As Deputy Chief of the General Staff in the early 90’s, he worked on negotiations for a peace
treaty with the Palestinians under Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin Z”L. He became Chief of the General
Staff in 1995, continuing negotiations with the Palestinians as well as with the Syrians when he met with
his Syrian counterpart.
He retired from the IDF in 1998 after 36 years of service. During his tenure in the Israeli Knesset,
which he joined in 1999, Lipkin-Shahak served as Minister of Tourism and Minister of Transport.
“General Lipkin-Shahak was a true leader and a visionary,” said FIDF National Director and CEO,
Maj. Gen. (Res.) Yitzhak (Jerry) Gershon. “He devoted his life to serving the State of Israel and acted with
courage and on principle. Our condolences go out to his family. He will be remembered for many years
to come.”
ranks. During his service he received two Medals of Honor, one for his conduct in 1968’s Operation
Inferno, in Karameh, Jordan, and the second for his part in 1973’s Operation Spring of Youth, in Beirut,
Lebanon. As Deputy Chief of the General Staff in the early 90’s, he worked on negotiations for a peace
treaty with the Palestinians under Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin Z”L. He became Chief of the General
Staff in 1995, continuing negotiations with the Palestinians as well as with the Syrians when he met with
his Syrian counterpart.
He retired from the IDF in 1998 after 36 years of service. During his tenure in the Israeli Knesset,
which he joined in 1999, Lipkin-Shahak served as Minister of Tourism and Minister of Transport.
“General Lipkin-Shahak was a true leader and a visionary,” said FIDF National Director and CEO,
Maj. Gen. (Res.) Yitzhak (Jerry) Gershon. “He devoted his life to serving the State of Israel and acted with
courage and on principle. Our condolences go out to his family. He will be remembered for many years
to come.”
| Lt. Gen. (Res.) Lipkin-Shahak during his tenure as Chief of the General Staff: IDF Archive | Former IDF Chiefs of Staff at FIDF’s 2011 National NY Gala Dinner: IDF National Director Maj. Gen. (Res.) Yitzhak (Jerry) Gershon, Lt. Gen. (Res.) Moshe Ya'alon, Lt. Gen. (Res.) Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, Minister of Defense Lt. Gen. (Res.) Ehud Barak, Lt. Gen. (Res.) Shaul Mofaz, Lt. Gen. (Res.) Dan Halutz, and Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi |
