Yitzhak Mordechai

Yitzhak "Itzik" Mordechai (; born 22 November 1944) is an Israeli former general and politician. He served as a member of the Knesset between 1996 and 2001, and as Minister of Defense and Minister of Transport. He retired from political life after being indicted for sexual assaults during his military service and later periods.

Biography Mordechai was born in the town of Akre, in Iraq's Kurdistan Region, to a Sephardic Jewish family, and made aliyah to Israel in 1949.

Military career In 1962 he enlisted to the Combat Engineering Corps of the Israel Defense Forces and later joined the Paratroopers Brigade. He remained in the military as an officer after finishing his compulsory military service. He fought in the Six-Day War, War of Attrition, and Yom Kippur War. During the Yom Kippur War, he participated in the Battle of the Chinese Farm. He was decorated with the Medal of Courage for his actions during the Yom Kippur War. when new Chief of General Staff Amnon Lipkin-Shahak did not appoint him as his deputy.

Mordechai continued to hold the rank of Major General in the reserves following his retirement. After he was convicted of sexual harassment and assault, a military tribunal ruled that he would retain the rank of Major General in spite of his conviction. Military Advocate General Avichai Mandelblit appealed the decision, arguing that he should be demoted, but the Military Court of Appeals ruled that he could keep his rank.

Political career

In 1995 Mordechai joined Likud and was on the party's list for the elections the following year. After Binyamin Netanyahu won the election for Prime Minister, he appointed Mordechai as Defense Minister, where he became Lipkin-Shahak's boss.

In 1999, a public rift occurred between Mordechai and Netanyahu because of political rivalry and difference of opinion regarding the negotiations with Palestinians. Netanyahu dismissed Mordechai shortly before Mordechai would have reportedly resigned. On 23 February 1999 Mordechai left Likud along with several other members to establish the new Israel in the Centre party. However, despite strong initial poll results, the party fared badly in the 1999 elections, winning only six seats. Nevertheless, the party joined Ehud Barak's new Labor-led government and Mordechai became Minister of Transport.

Mordechai resigned from his ministerial position in 2000 after being indicted for sexual misconduct. He resigned from the Knesset in 2001.

Sexual assault convictions In March 2000, a secretary in Mordechai's office accused him of sexual harassment and assault. The 23-year-old employee, whose name was not released, alleged one instance where Mordechai reportedly pulled her onto a sofa in his office and put his hand under her blouse. Mordechai received an 18-month suspended sentence.

Awards and decorations