Eliakim Haatsani, one of the founders of the Jewish settlement in Hebron and one of the leaders of the settlement movement in Judea and Samaria, died this evening (Sunday) at the age of 96. Haatsani lived from 1972 until his death in the Ramat Mamra neighborhood in Kiryat Arba.
His funeral is expected to be held tomorrow at 14:00 at the old cemetery in Hebron.
Atzani was born in the city of Kiel in Germany as Georg Baumbach and after Kristallnacht immigrated to Israel with his family.
He graduated with honors in law at the Hebrew University, and at the same time served as a member of the defense.
In the War of Independence he was wounded by a Jordanian shelling in Jerusalem.
Atzani (right) with Geula Cohen and Yuval Na'eman, photo: Moshe Shai
After the Six Day War, he was one of the founders of the movement for a complete Land of Israel and was one of the initiators and leaders of the settlement in Judea and Samaria.
Among other things, he participated in the mythological Seder night at the Park Hotel, which led to the Jewish settlement of Hebron.
He was a member of the Yesha Council and the Council's Political Fruits. Atzani served as a member of the Knesset on behalf of the revival faction in the 12th Knesset.
In 2018, he lost his wife Tzipora. He is the father of three sons and one daughter. His son Nadav Atzani is a publicist and writes a column in Israel Hayom.
His son Boaz Atzani is a well-known activist in the Yosh and, among other things, leads tours for public figures and members of the media in Samaria. His granddaughter, Sarah Atzani Cohen, is one of the leaders of the Israel Shali movement.
Atzani (center) at the Defensive Democracy conference, photo: Roni Shitzer
"But a heavy weight fell this evening on Kiryat Arba Hebron, on Judea and Samaria and on the entire nation of Israel with the passing of Advocate Eliakim Atzani," the head of the Kiryat Arba Hebron Council Eliyahu Liebman eulogized him. "The late Haatzani was the founding father of the settlement, a man Leadership and kindness, a humble and humble man who always had the public's affairs in mind. The late Eliakim was beloved by the public, a peacemaker and a unifier between publics, who kept faith with the people of Israel and the State of Israel until his last day, a very sad eve of settlement."
The head of the Beit El Council pays tribute to Elikim Atzani: "One of the best fighters of the settlement in the Land of Israel"
The head of the Beit El Council, Shay Alon, paid tribute to him: "Alikim Hathsani was a man of vision and a pioneer before the camp. He had many rights in the flowering of the wilderness of Judea and Samaria. We lost one of the best fighters of the settlement in the Land of Israel. We will miss him greatly, but he left behind a magnificent family line that was educated To his light. May his memory be blessed."
Eliakim Atzani, archive, photo: Tal Cohen
The Kiryat Arba council said: "The residents of the council are bowing their heads and mourning this evening with the passing of attorney Eliakim Atzani."
The late Hatzani was one of the fathers of the settlement movement in Judea and Samaria and one of the first settlers in the city of Babot along with his wife the late Tzipora.
Eliakim was one of the warriors of the whole land of Israel and the builder of the land, a man of spirit and action, a leader and trailblazer.
He lived in Kiryat Arba from the day it was founded until his death."
The Yesha Council wrote: "Hatsani was one of the founders of the Jewish settlement in Hebron and the founders of the Yesha Council and planted generations of people of truth and ideology on HaTaishivot Avenue. On behalf of the residents of Judea, Samaria and the lovers of the Land of Israel, we send our condolences to the Atzani family, including Lev Baaz, Nadav, Yishai and his granddaughter Sarah Atzani, who heads the "My Israel" movement. In the building of Jerusalem and the Land of Israel, they will rest."
Minister Ayelet Shaked offered her condolences: "Sad news falls on the sky of the settlement this evening with the news of the passing of Eliakim Atzani, one of the first settlers in Judea and Samaria, a man of the Land of Israel with all his limbs. A man of spirit and truth. For me he was an ideological compass. Condolences to the Atzani family dear".
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— Sara Ha'etzni Cohen (@SaraHaetzniCohe) September 18, 2022 Were we wrong?
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