Who is Jacob Kedmi actually?

Yakov Kedmi familiar to Russian viewers of TV shows. When given word Kedmi, Few dare to interrupt his or zabaltyvat. Flawless Russian language, validity of the arguments and the iron logic of forcing the audience to listen carefully, interrupting his monologue only deserved applause.

Surname Kedmi former Muscovite Yakov Kazakov received a few years after the scandal, completed his move to Israel. He was the first of those, Who, without Israel no relative, received official permission to travel to that country. It was his first, but not the last victory. Therefore its name recently published book "hopeless war" should not be taken literally. Had come to him in his difficult life battle only on the part of other skeptics might seem hopeless. In fact, the word "bad" should be added to the word "seemingly" or quoting the word in the title of the volume, and quite frankly the book Kedmi. I use the following text of this book, but not limited to its.

Declassified service

The name of the Israeli secret service, "Nativ" was published by accident as a result of the Minister of Finance of the reservations of the country in the early 1990s. The reason for its secrecy was special in that, that the service actually worked against the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

Yakov Kedmi 22 year stint in "Nativ" (in Hebrew - "Path"), of which 7 years was its head. Service reports directly to the Prime Minister.

note, that about two decades ago in the press began to appear on the publication of "Nativ", so-so-secret, as is often written, she had already ceased to be. Even before the memoirs I. Kedmi book appeared Isaac Deutschman about the secret services of Israel, which it was written about the "most secretive service" "Nativ", and Jacob Kedmi. It noted, is the emissaries of the staff of "Nativ" performed propaganda and organizational work to promote "the Soviet aliyah" ("Aliyah" - the repatriation of Jews to Israel), and conducted intelligence work. As for the "recruitment" activities, This is attributed to the Secret Service, then it, According to Kedmi, did not have. The thing is, that the need for such recruitment fell away because of the possibility to freely collect from future immigrants to intelligence about political, economic and military situation of the country of their current residence.

The management of "Nativ" as their representatives carefully selects warmly dedicated Zionist youth volunteers, familiar with the ritual (to work in the synagogues) and secular Jewish customs, and fluent in at least three spoken languages. Kedmi fully comply with these requirements, and hit the "Nativ" is not accidental.

first victory

The word "Jew" Muscovite Yasha Kazakov, first heard from his peers three year old child, and with a clearly negative meaning. Educated and well assimilated parents, Russian Jews, We explained to him the meaning of the word. Subsequently, he often faced anti-Semitism. Already as a young man, Yakov began to read serious literature. Turn over in reputable Moscow libraries deposits obscure literature, including treatises Zionists and anti-Semites, he concluded, that further life in the Soviet Union for it, as a Jew, It does not make sense. He had a burning desire to move to live in the country, where his, as well as other Jews, will not be considered "ugly duckling".

Yakov did not wait long and started to act decisively, aimed at obtaining exit permits. In February 1967 , he broke into the territory of the Israeli Embassy and said, he wants to take up permanent residence in this country. A week later, again he repeated his daring deed and received at the Embassy desirable forms for immigration. In June of the same year, when the Soviet Union broke off diplomatic relations with Israel because of the Six-Day War, Kedmi publicly renounced his Soviet citizenship, demanding to allow him to ever go to Israel. Then he entered the US Embassy in Moscow to help him emigrate to Israel.

20 May 1968 year Kedmi sent to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR letter, which strongly condemned anti-Semitism in the country, I put forward the demand to deprive him of his Soviet citizenship and illegally proclaimed himself a citizen of Israel. Such a precedent in the Soviet Union was not yet. Besides, he was able to publish their respective statements in the Western press. When he eventually, I am looking in your mailbox, I found him permission to emigrate to Israel, his victory cry pierced all floors of the house, reaching the ears of parents. The parents were shocked. Kedmi but did not change their plans, and in February 1969 the year he moved to Israel. Behind him he had three courses of the Moscow Institute of Transport Engineers and knowledge of Hebrew, which he mastered in anticipation of an exit permit. Upon arrival in Israel Kedmi decided to go to the Faculty of Science Chemistry at the Technion, but a year later went to the army. Later, he graduated from the Department of State Science and International Relations, University of Haifa, as well as the College of National Security at the General Staff of the IDF.

Yakov Kedmi immediately after his arrival in Israel dealt with the issue of repatriation of Soviet Jews. Before it could not resist the pressure of parents. But the Soviet authorities forbade them to move in with him, and his mother in the appropriate bodies, even strongly advised to persuade him to return to his homeland. AT 1970 was adamant Kedmi made a hunger strike outside the UN building on the grounds, Soviet authorities forbade his family to move in with him. He made his, and 4 Martha 1970 Year family reunion held. After that Jacob became a fighter IDF. he served in tank units, and then at a military school and razvedshkolu.

The first disappointment

When Jacob was in Combined Arms Officer School, also he received personal weapons as weapons platoon 52-mm mortar. However, the officer, He is an instructor, not really explained, how to use a mortar, sending it to the cadets, familiar with the "pipe". Cadets told him all, as for mortar, without touching the parts of fire equipment. AND, when it came to the final exercise with live firing, Yakov due tank habits lift head, rather than bend down it to the ground, I received a serious injury to the auditory both ears. The reason for that was the negligence of the instructor and "disregard" attitude to their duties. It happened two weeks before the end of the school, and the injury was threatened with expulsion from the course. Finish my studies helped interference school commander, to which Jacob asked for help.

Jacob had to endure great sorrow after, both in Israel after all his relatives moved him. Press widely covered the arrival of his parents, especially - the meeting with his father, Shimon Peres, who was then the Minister of Transport and Communications. Peres, erupted feelingly speech, He noted, he was glad, that such people, his father Jacob, come to Israel, because the country needs highly qualified specialists. When we otshumeli the enthusiasm and go everyday, father Jacob to find a job has become impossible. Moreover, the standard argument for refusal was the verdict of, that he is "too high qualifications". A few years out of work promykavshis, Jacob's father decided to try their luck in other countries. Once in Canada, he soon died in a car accident.

In the same tank with the future prime minister

Yom Kippur War could well be attributed to the "seemingly" hopeless wars category. The thing is, that it began with the onset of the Egyptians, to which the Israelis were not ready. neither intelligence, no command, no country impact management does not expect him and simply slept, lulled to sleep by repeated teachings of the Egyptians. I had to catch up due to the greater number of casualties (2,8 thousand. dead) and destroyed equipment.

In this first for Jacob Kedmi war, he served as chief of the battalion Intelligence and Chief of Operations. All control is carried out of the tank battalion commander, which was Ehud Barak, the future Prime Minister of Israel. Yom Kippur War, they were together in the same tank.

Notably, Yakov Kedmi characterizes the Egyptian opposition as a very stubborn and even heroic. memorable episode, when in front of his tank up to the full-length Egyptian soldiers, opened on the tank fire from a Kalashnikov. The soldier was not afraid to collide with his tank, lay down between the tracks, and when the tank drove, then he stood up and continued to shoot. Daredevil had to shoot ...

In the context of the fight, the heaviest of all this war, Jacob had to go through a lot of bright and dramatic moments. A member of his crew, Major Yishai Izhar, Ehud Barak friend, literally died at the hands of James, doused his suit all the blood spilled from the wound. But the rest had to continue shooting, making your way through a barrage of anti-tank missiles. Death was near, and many of the warriors, remembered his smile, turned into corpses. It is impossible to read without a shudder line on the participation of James in the identification of corpses burnt tankers. here, apparently, It is Kedmi conviction, that should not be missed no opportunity to resolve issues peacefully, instead of field paint.

Memories Kedmi objectively restore parts fights, previously garbled propagandists. So, "Heroic fight" Israeli paratroopers at the "Chinese Farm" was in fact not at all heroic. This fight for the Airborne battalion ended in failure. He was thrown against the position better armed and supported by the Egyptian tanks. As a result, the battalion was cut to pieces and scattered better prepared opponent. And stop any "Egyptian attack," they really could not. According to Kedmi, this shameful battle, called "heroic", It was a typical propaganda case, whose task was to boost morale and to hide failure. Yak in front of such a problem did not put. And he, for example, truthfully described, as the four Israeli "Skyhawks" several times during the two hours of trying to destroy the artillery battery, but I did not get it.

Along with this "window-dressing" Kedmi observed and cases of true heroism of Israelis. In his book describes one such actions, who made Yair Tal, son of General Israel Tal. a true hero, skillful and courageous, Ehud Barak looks.

Impressive scenes downright caring attitude of Israelis to the Egyptians, who got them captured on the west bank of the Suez Canal. fed dinner, Israel sent them to sleep, having supplied with blankets and food. The next morning there was a genuine idyl: Egyptians prisoners with Israeli tanks and armored vehicles crews were preparing breakfast, then turned into a joint meal. At the same time the Egyptians volunteered to help in the distribution of food and washing dishes ...

When the truce, Yakov Kedmi had to transfer the Egyptian side of terrified civilians urban, hiding during the fighting. He did not feel like a winner, and felt ashamed because, that compelled by force of arms was to lead the people of the city, confident that, that their lives are in his hands.

This war saved Jacob from an almost fanatical idealization of the Israeli state and its military and political leadership. He came to the paradoxical conclusion: Although the Israelites defeated on the battlefield, surrounded the Egyptian Third Army, and putting it on the brink of destruction, but the war is actually won Sadat, because the results meet the objectives of the war, put them, not Israel.

Of war Kedmi, he admits, I came out a different person. Suffered their credo he formulated simply and clearly: "There's nothing worse, than self-deception, - is a recipe for failure. The truth begins with, that the person refuses to lie to myself, and I decided for myself never to deceive ".

The fight for the departure of Soviet Jews

An invitation to work in the "Nativ" Yakov Kedmi received 1977 year on this front recently elected Prime Minister Menachem Begin. surname Kedmi ("East" in Hebrew) Yakov took, started work in a special transit center emigration, Located in Vienna. AT 1990 he became deputy director of the "Nativ", and 1992 year - the head of this structure. It was the period Kedmi leadership "Nativ" hit the maximum influx (nearly a million people) Jews from the former Soviet republics. A significant influx of professionals and scientists played a leading role in the establishment of Israel as a state.

The share of professionals among immigrants was higher, than among the CIS population and among veteran Israelis. Percentage with higher and secondary special education among immigrants reached 55%, while among the old-timers of Israel he 1989 year prior to the beginning of mass immigration was only 28%. In the opinion of the competent Israeli experts, Israel would remain a backward country economically, if it were not "Russian". Without them, the economy would not be able to make a grand leap, which occurred in the last decades. According to some estimates, if not for the "big aliyah", the percentage of professionals with higher education was not 20,4%, like now, and all 10%. The volume of Israeli exports would not be equal 80, a 50 billion dollars., while the share of defense spending in the state budget was not 15%, a 20%. It is the "Russian" have provided a huge influx of skilled labor in the Israeli industry. Educated and skillful "Russian" workers, characterized by high culture and discipline, provided a sharp increase in labor productivity, which for 20 s got to 30%.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 2009 year at the awards ceremony of Israeli scientists immigrant rightly said: "Mass immigration to Israel from the former Soviet Union saved the economy, since many immigrants joined the institution, engaged in high-tech, medicine, and in various scientific circles ".

The great merit in the resettlement of Jews to their historic homeland belongs personally Kedmi. As a result of his efforts to redirect the flow of Jews with Israeli visas to Israel, while before 90% those who left went to other countries. Kedmi introduced new exit rules, according to which was prevented by the arrival of immigrants in Vienna. Thereby "screening" of those, who with Israeli visas went to another country, virtually stopped.

Soviet training

Yakov Kedmi happened a long time in contact with the Israeli government elite. Delight these contacts it, usually, did not cause. In his book, very few of the senior management of the country are described with sympathy and respect. Portraits of famous Israeli politicians, officials and former intelligence officers, which gives unvarnished Kedmi in his book with an indication of the true names and facts, It is a valuable material for the biographer and historians.

With biting irony Kedmi describes the shameful incident with the Israelis arrest Joseph Kobzon, arrived in Israel on tour. Or another story, When in Moscow, during a reception at the restaurant "Metropol" Kobzon, on behalf of the Israeli delegation forbidden to sing. Singer tearfully asked while trembling voice Kedmi help him, and begins scandal was settled with great difficulty ...

At the end of his book, Yakov Kedmi is recognized, that his basic qualities, ensure success in the fight, and many wars, It was acquired in Soviet Russia. It is appropriate to recognize not recount, and quote:

"In Russia, my personality is formed, my moral and ethical principles: respect for the person, regardless of its origin, national or religious affiliation, a heightened sense of justice in society, and in general. In Russia I learned to love the motherland, love for his people and a willingness to make sacrifices in the name of ideals, who believe in. In Russia, I learned to fight to the end and never give up, even when you are alone against all and you have no chance of.

... In Russia, I was taught to appreciate the book, culture and education, good education and art. Since childhood, I used to be treated with aversion to cheap and primitive political propaganda, the hypocrisy, those in power and the party members especially the authorities, to the principles of trade and way of life. In Russia I learned to treat with contempt towards people, dedicated their lives to greed and money. In spite of the brutal regime, in spite of the hypocrisy and lies, filled the Soviet society, and finally destroyed his, all the qualities I have gained in Russia and did not regret it ".

Gregory Shechtman

A source