Ben-Zion Leitner (; 1927 – March 25, 2012) was an Israeli soldier, who received the nation's highest military decoration, the Hero of Israel citation (now the

Medal of Valor This list of medals for bravery is an index to articles about notable medals awarded for bravery or valor. These medals, usually associated with military forces, police forces, or other public safety entities, are given to personnel who have serv ...

), for heroism during the

1948 Arab–Israeli War The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, also known as the First Arab–Israeli War, followed the 1947–1948 civil war in Mandatory Palestine, civil war in Mandatory Palestine as the second and final stage of the 1948 Palestine war. The civil war becam ...

Career

He led an assault that blew up of a bunker at a police position in

Iraq Suwaydan 'Iraq Suwaydan (, ) was a Palestinian Arab village located northeast of Gaza City. It was captured by Israeli forces in Operation Yoav against the defending Egyptian Army during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The village infrastructure, with the ex ...

, in which half of his face became paralysed. He was a native of Odessa

References

1920s births 2012 deaths Israeli soldiers Israeli military personnel of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War Military personnel from Odesa Odesa Jews Recipients of the Medal of Valor (Israel) Soviet emigrants to Mandatory Palestine {{Israel-mil-bio-stub