In the Israel Defense Forces, rare is the combat officer who rises through the ranks to reach Major General without having led troops in either Infantry (preferably Paratroopers), Armor or Commando units. Dan Harel is such an exception. Starting out as an Air Force Cadet, he quickly climbed the ladder as an Artillery Officer, then checked out as an Armored Division Commanding General, finally earning himself the rank of Major General as the General Staff’s Operations Chief.
In that position he coordinated the Military’s actions during Operation Defensive Shield against Palestinian terror, then went on to head the Southern Command, where he was in charge of the complex withdrawal operation from Gaza. Expecting to get some respite in Washington as Defense Attaché, he was instead called back home to be the No. 2 of a new Chief of Staff, in essence the Chief Operating Officer of the IDF. After 2 years, Harel insisted on leaving this position, and declined the chance to compete for the coveted top job of Ramatkal.
During retirement he has upheld his reputation as an effective, straight-arrow manager in the Civilian Sector, running the Transportation Ministry, the Railway System and - back to the IDF, but from another angle - the Defense Ministry.
