Chairman of the Irgun Soldiers Alliance, dies at the age of 88 • Netanyahu: "He was a descendant of the Halutzim family - one of the founders of the Jewish community in Eretz Israel" • Rivlin: "Ish Hadar"

• Yair Assiskovich with President Rivlin // Photo: Mark Neiman / GPO

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  Photo: Mark Neiman / GPO

Yair Asiskowitz, chairman of the Irgun Soldiers Alliance, died at the age of 88. Asiskowitz joined the organization at the age of 14 as a poster sticker and later broadcast on "Kol Zion Halohamet" and participated in escorting the convoys on the way to Jerusalem. Asiskovich called for increased efforts and activities to preserve the heritage of the underground, especially among the youth.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid tribute and said of the death of the late Yair Assiskovitz: "My wife Sarah and I are deeply saddened by the death of the chairman of the Irgun Soldiers Alliance, the late Yair Asiskovitz. Over the years, we met Yair at state memorials for Irgun soldiers and commanders. The unique passion that burned in him, as someone who contributed with his own hands to the achievement of Israel's independence, did not fade until the end of his life. He was proud that his descendants are also imbued with a strong love for the people and the country, and hold the Zionist torch in their hands. "

"Yair, a member of the Petah Tikva colony, was a descendant of the Halutzim family - one of the founders of the Jewish community in Eretz Israel. He enlisted in the Irgun in his youth and participated in many underground activities, self-risking and showing courage. Among other things, he was responsible for treating the dead and wounded. " 

"Alongside his contribution to the development of Israeli agriculture and the promotion of the Shufersal supermarket company, he devoted himself with all his might and energy to preserving the heritage of the underground. His fascinating lectures to students, soldiers, cadets and ordinary citizens brought the younger generation closer to independence.

"We extend our full condolences to the dear Asiskowitz family. We will work to continue the heritage project that Yair nurtured so that the Irgun fighters receive the respect they deserve in the renewed history of Israel. Of blessed memory".

President Reuven (Ruby) Rivlin also said goodbye tonight to the Irgun fighter and chairman of the Irgun Soldiers Alliance and said: "The young Irgun fighter, a man of splendor and challenge, the masterpiece of the struggle for Israeli freedom, Yair Assiskovich, left us tonight is very. Yair was abducted and severely tortured during the difficult "season" and later, as one of the founders of the IDF casualty department, "took on the treatment of the wounded and their families, and the commemoration of the underground fighters and their legacy."

Rivlin added that "year after year he carried on his heart the memory of the warriors, and did everything he could to give them Yad Vashem, lest they become 'anonymous soldiers'. On this sad evening of parting from who I had as a big brother, I also say goodbye to one of the elephants The last who still lived among us. The representative of a generation that founded and carried the torch of faith and hope in the light of which the State of Israel was established, and in the light of which we continue to walk even today. A generation whose life anthem was' Our deepest condolences go out to his dear family. "

As mentioned, when he was only 14 years old, Yair was drafted into the Irgun by Tova Glass-Tzipori. He received general training and underwent weapons, liaison and Morse training, and under the command of Yosef Greenberg, Yair and his friends pasted leaflets throughout the mother colonies. Once a announcer of "Kol Zion HaLohamet", the Irgun's broadcasting station in Petah Tikva, which was located above "Beit Hadar", on Hovevei Zion Street at the corner of Mohliver.

At the end of 1946, Yair was abducted by two commanders from the Haganah organization and, while physically tortured, was required to provide information about his brother and friends. Yair was tortured and did not provide any information, until his wounded kidnappers finally threw him on one of the streets. With the outbreak of hostilities by the Arabs following the UN decision on the partition of Israel, Yair accompanied supply convoys to Jerusalem, and later assisted in supplying food to Irgun fighters during the operation to occupy Jaffa.

In the IDF, Yair served as head of the casualty department, and his direct responsibility was for the wounded. He wrote procedures on evacuating casualties, establishing field hospitals, family visits and more. Later, he also helped Chaim Lakov establish the IDF schools. Until the first Lebanon war (inclusive), Yair participated in all Israeli systems.