Last Survivor of Iconic Flag Raising at Eilat Dies at 95

Yohanan Elishov, one of the last Palmach fighters from the 1948 War of Independence, passed away on Monday at the age of 95. Elishov was the sole surviving participant present at the historic "Ink Flag" raising ceremony after the capture of Eilat, an image that became a symbol of Israel's establishment.

Born in Petah Tikva, Elishov joined the Palmach in late 1947. He trained under future IDF Chief of Staff Rafael Eitan and later served in the Harel Brigade in Jerusalem. During the battle for Nebi Samuel, he led the evacuation of wounded soldiers and equipment and fought on the crucial road to Jerusalem, including the capture of Beit Mahsir and attempts to reach the Old City.

During the first ceasefire, Elishov moved to the southern front, participating in key operations in the Negev and Sinai. He served as a driver for Yigal Allon and was present at the Ink Flag raising in Eilat. He continued his military service in the Artillery Corps, fighting in all of Israel's wars from the 1956 Suez Crisis to the 1982 Lebanon War.

In his civilian life, Elishov dedicated decades to national infrastructure development. He worked as a heavy vehicle driver for Solel Boneh, contributing to road construction and development projects across southern Israel, the Negev, the Dead Sea, and the Makhteshim region. After retiring, he volunteered for years with the Diabetes Association.

His son Yoav recalled that his father, initially dyslexic and working from a young age, joined the Palmach at 16. "When Dad raised the Ink Flag, he didn't understand the magnitude of the event," Yoav said. "They didn't have a flag, so their clerk took a sheet and drew on it. Only later did it become a historical icon."

Another son, Yuval, described his father as a great family man who instilled values of love for the country. He noted his father's sharp mind, even in old age, recalling his warnings about insufficient army soldiers a decade before the October 7th attacks. Yuval added that his father was deeply angered by what he perceived as attacks on institutions like the courts, military, and Mossad, which he saw as foundational to the state he helped build.