Yishai Zimmerman, Decorated Hero of Unit 101, Dies at 93

By ישראל מושקוביץ

Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba

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Hebrew · 4 newsrooms covering

Yishai Zimmerman, a decorated fighter from the elite Unit 101, has died at age 93 in Kibbutz Ein Harod Ihud. Known for his bravery, he received the Medal of Courage for his actions in Operation Kadesh and was wounded in both the Six-Day and Yom Kippur Wars. In a notable incident during the First Lebanon War, he famously flew a stolen Cessna from Beirut to Israel, resulting in a court-martial.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

Yishai Zimmerman, a decorated Unit 101 fighter, died at 93.
He received the Medal of Courage for capturing an Egyptian post in Operation Kadesh.
Zimmerman served with Arik Sharon and was wounded in the Six-Day and Yom Kippur Wars.
He once flew a stolen Cessna from Lebanon to Israel during the First Lebanon War.
He continued reserve duty as a tank driver until his 80s.

Yishai Zimmerman, Decorated Hero of Unit 101, Dies at 93 — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Yishai Zimmerman, one of the last surviving fighters of the elite Unit 101, passed away Monday at his kibbutz, Ein Harod Ihud, at the age of 93. He is remembered as a courageous warrior with a rich combat legacy, leaving behind six children, 15 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. He will be laid to rest on Tuesday at his kibbutz.

Zimmerman's son, Aml Zimmerman, a retired Deputy Commissioner and former commander of the Police Air Wing, described his father as a brave and fearless individual who continued reserve duty as a tank driver until his 80s, possibly making him the oldest tank driver in the IDF or even the world. He also recalled his father's playful nature, a characteristic of the "old kibbutzniks."

Born in 1933 in Ein Harod, Zimmerman's family was involved in the early settlement of the Jezreel Valley. Due to ideological splits within the kibbutz movement in the early 1950s, his family divided, with Zimmerman moving with his father to Ein Harod Ihud while his mother and brother Malachi remained in Ein Harod Meuhed.

Zimmerman enlisted in the Armored Corps and was recruited into Unit 101 through a "friend brings friend" system. His son recounted that Arik Sharon personally intervened to get Zimmerman out of military prison after he left base without permission, leading to his participation in Unit 101's most daring operations from its inception until its disbandment.

After completing officers' training, Zimmerman commanded a force that captured an Egyptian artillery post near Nitzana during Operation Kadesh, an action for which he received the Medal of Courage. His son explained that Zimmerman, having just taken command of the platoon, single-handedly captured the complex.

Following Operation Kadesh, Zimmerman returned to civilian life working in his kibbutz's garage but continued his reserve service. He was wounded in both the Six-Day War and the Yom Kippur War while serving with Arik Sharon's forces.

In his youth, Zimmerman fulfilled a dream by completing a civilian pilot course. This skill later led to a controversial incident during the First Lebanon War. While serving in a special intelligence unit, he flew a Cessna aircraft from Beirut to Israel, landing in Haifa. Air traffic control was alerted, but two F-16s escorted him due to fears of a hijacked plane. He was imprisoned for a month and charged with looting, though the prosecutor reportedly expressed envy for the experience.