Yigal Allon (Peikowitz)
was born on October 10, 1918, in the village of Tavor (Masha), to his parents Chaya and Reuven Peikovich, who were among the settlers of Rosh Pina and the founders of Kfar Tavor. From childhood, Yigal worked on his father’s farm and was aware of the colony’s guarding and security issues. These two foundations, of work and security, have left a deep imprint on his entire life.
Studied in the first year of the “Kadoorie” agricultural school. After graduating in 1937, he joined the Gar’in that established Kibbutz Ginosar.
The days of the 1936-1939 events and the Homa and Migdal settlements. Served together with Moshe Dayan, under the command of Yitzhak Sadeh, as commanders of the security force for the settlers who came to Hanita.
Was the commander of the Hagana’s commander course in Jowhara and the instructor for the officers’ course at Yavne’el. In the same year he married Ruth.
In 1941, with the establishment of the Palmach, Yigal was appointed commander of Company A. He commanded a patrol unit that instructed the way to Syria from Metula and Marj-Iyun, as an aid to the British army that attacked Syria and Lebanon. In 1942 founded the Palmach’s Mista’arvim unit and was its commander. In 1943 he was appointed deputy commander of the Palmach, and took part in the secret immigration of Jews from Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. In 1945-1947 he served as commander of the Palmach and during the “rebellion” he led the struggle against the British.
In 1948, at the beginning of the War of Independence, he founded the Yiftach Brigade of the Palmach and was its first commander, and commander of the “Yiftach” operation for the liberation of the Eastern Galilee. After that he commanded “Danny” operation. He recruited the Beduin tribe Arab al-Hib Residents of the village of Tuba to the Palmach. From August 1948, with the establishment of the IDF, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Command, commanding the conquest of the entire south and the Negev as far as Eilat. In 1949 he was discharged from the IDF and returned home – to Ginosar.
Served as Minister of Labor. In July 1967 he presents the “Allon Plan” which proposed a political solution to the conflict with the Arabs. The plan was not officially approved as a government policy, but until 1977 practically served as a guideline.
Served as the Minister of Integration and the Deputy Prime Minister.
Served as Minister of Education and Deputy Prime Minister. In 1973, during the Yom Kippur War, he was a partner with Prime Minister Golda Meir in all security and policy decisions.
Died of a heart attack in the midst of a campaign for Labor party leadership.
The Ginosar leaflet reads: “A pleasant-mannered man, a good friend, fair-minded even in the heat of debate, broad-minded and knowledgeable, a theoretician and a man of action, his teachings are orderly and intelligible, thorough, clear, draws on cultural values and a Zionist-socialist and humane worldview.”
