The tenth of Tammuz marks the date Yitzḥak Shamir (known as “Michael” in the underground), Israel’s greatest prime minister, left our world.
Despite his many contributions to the Jewish people as the operational leader of Leḥi (Fighters for the Freedom of Israel), a top agent of Mossad and Israel’s strongest head of state, Prime Minister Shamir had essentially been erased from Israeli history.
It’s not that Israeli society was conditioned to see Shamir as a negative figure. It’s more that he was presented as”boring” and not worth learning about.
But there’s nothing boring about a ruthless guerrilla leader turned Mossad agent turned prime minister of a country like Israel.
Shamir served as prime minister from 1983-84 and 1986-92, leading the Likud party to electoral victories twice, despite lacking much of the charisma that characterizes most modern political leaders.
Barely over five feet tall and built like a block of granite, Shamir projected an image of uncompromising inner steel in the face of international pressure for Israel to relinquish the territories won during the 1967 Six Day War.
A large percentage of the Israeli electorate trusted Shamir to protect the nation and even those who disagreed with his principles couldn’t help but be impressed with his determination and selfless commitment to those principles.
Prime Minister Yitzḥak Shamir made it his mission to protect the land of Israel and fill her with Jews, bringing our exiled people home from Ethiopia and the former Soviet Union.
When pressured by Washington to stop building new Jewish communities in the West Bank and Gaza regions, he stood his ground and refused to allow foreign leaders to dictate Israel’s policies.
The Israeli media nicknamed Shamir “Mr. No” in reference to his reputation for refusing to submit to US demands to surrender land.
To date, Shamir is without a doubt the strongest political leader the State of Israel has ever had when it comes to defending and advancing Jewish national interests.
