Rechavam Ze'evy

RECHAVAM ZE'EVY (GANDHI)
STATE MEDAL 5762/2002

Following the decision of the Ministerial Committee for Ceremony and Emblems, and in conjunction with a Public Committee comprised of prestigious public figures, this State Medal was issued to commemorate the memory of the late Rechavam Ze'evy. Major General Rechavam Ze'evy, former Minister of Tourism and Knesset Member, was assassinated on October 17, 2001 by members of The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. “Gandhi”, as he was nicknamed, was born in Jerusalem in 1926. He joined the Palmach in 1944 and after the establishment of the State of Israel he continued his military service in various command, intelligence and operational positions. He finished his military career as Commander of the Central Military District. After the Yom Kippur War, he served as an advisor to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and the War on Terror. Gandhi formed the Political Party “Moledet” (Homeland) in 1988 and was a member of the Knesset. He was one of the most zealous defenders of Israel’s sovereign rights and even his greatest political opponents admired his honesty and integrity. Gandhi tended to conclude his speeches with the following verse: The Lord gives strength to His people, the Lord blesses His people with peace.” (Psalms 29:11). These words are imprinted on the reverse of the medal.

Obverse: The image of Rechavam Zeevy with the Israeli flag and Star of David in the background; the inscription “MINISTER RECHAVAM ZE'EVY 1926-2001” are inscribed in Hebrew and English to the left.

Reverse: Israel State emblem, IDF emblem and Palmach emblem; a broken dog-tag with his name, rank and military number, as well as the dates of his birth and his assignation, symbolizing the dog-tag that he constantly wore with the names of Israel’s missing and prisoners of war. The verse from Psalms is inscribed from right to left, around the border of the medal: “THE LORD GIVES STRENGTH TO HIS PEOPLE THE LORD BLESSES HIS PEOPLE WITH PEACE.”

Edge: The copper-nickel medal has a smooth edge; the other medals display the State emblem with the words "STATE OF ISRAEL" inscribed in Hebrew on the right and in English on the left, the serial number; and metal.

Designer: Avraham Pat.

Engraving: Tidhar Dagan.

Mint: Copper-Nickel, Bronze and Silver – Hecht Products, Israel Gold – The Government Mint

Color: Tigel Industries, Tel Aviv.