Yoav "Poli" Mordechai (Hebrew: יואב "פולי" מרדכי; born March 25, 1964) is a retired major general in the Israel Defense Forces.

Yoav Mordechai
Born (1964-03-25) 25 March 1964 (age 60)
Jerusalem, Israel
Allegiance Israel
RankAluf (major general)
CommandsIDF Spokesperson, Head of the Civil Administration in the West Bank

Early life and education

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Mordechai has a master's degree of government and politics and additional master's degree in National Security studies in the frame of the National Security College.

Military career

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Mordechai was recruited to the IDF in 1982 and served as a soldier and an officer in the 51st Battalion of the Golani Brigade.[1] While serving along the Israel-Lebanon border, he was the primary handler of Avraham Sinai, who spied on Hezbollah for Israel.[2]

Mordechai later served in the Research Department in the Intelligence Directorate, and in an operational unit in the branch. In 2001, he was appointed to be chief of coordination and connection headquarters in Gaza, and later served as chief of civilian administration in the West Bank in the staff of the Government's Actions Coordinator in the Territories.

From April 7, 2011, to October 14, 2013, Mordechai served as the IDF Spokesperson. On January 29, 2014, following his promotion to the rank of major general, he was appointed as the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories. He concluded his 36-year career in the IDF in 2018 as the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories.[3]

Personal life

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Mordechai speaks fluent Arabic.

Mordechai is married and has three daughters.

References

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  1. ^ Lilach Shoval (March 21, 2011). "דובר צה"ל הבא: תא"ל יואב (פולי) מרדכי" [Next IDF's Spokesperson: Brig. Gen. Yoav (Poli) Mordechai]. Israel HaYom (in Hebrew). Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  2. ^ "From Hezbollah to Israeli army: The extraordinary journey of a father and son". Times of Israel. 2016-05-14. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  3. ^ Magid, Jacob; Bachner, Michael. "New liaison to Palestinians sworn in, says challenges 'more complex than ever'". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
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