16 Facts About Yitzhak Mordechai

Yitzhak "Itzik" Mordechai is an Israeli former general and politician.

Yitzhak Mordechai served as a member of the Knesset between 1996 and 2001, and as Minister of Defense and Minister of Transport.

Yitzhak Mordechai holds a BA in history from Tel Aviv University and an MA in Political Science from the University of Haifa.

Yitzhak Mordechai remained in the military as an officer after finishing his compulsory military service.

Yitzhak Mordechai fought in the Six-Day War, War of Attrition, and Yom Kippur War.

Yitzhak Mordechai was decorated with the Medal of Courage for his actions during the Yom Kippur War.

Yitzhak Mordechai was tried, and acquitted when the truth became known.

Yitzhak Mordechai was promoted to the rank of Major-General in 1986, and became known as the "General of the Three Commands", after serving as commander of all three territorial commands.

The First Intifada broke out in December 1987, when Yitzhak Mordechai was commander of the Southern Command.

Yitzhak Mordechai retired from active service in 1995 after 33 years of service, when new Chief of General Staff Amnon Lipkin-Shahak did not appoint him as his deputy.

Yitzhak Mordechai continued to hold the rank of Major General in the reserves following his retirement.

In 1995 Yitzhak Mordechai joined Likud and was on the party's list for the elections the following year.

On 23 February 1999 Yitzhak Mordechai left Likud along with several other members to establish the new Israel in the Centre party.

Nevertheless, the party joined Ehud Barak's new Labor-led government and Yitzhak Mordechai became Minister of Transport.

The 23-year-old employee, whose name was not released, alleged one instance where Yitzhak Mordechai reportedly pulled her onto a sofa in his office and put his hand under her blouse.

Yitzhak Mordechai's wife left him after the allegations surfaced and later divorced him.