When was Yitzhak Navon born and where?
Yitzhak Navon entered the world on the 9th of April 1921 within the walls of Jerusalem. His family lived under the British Mandate for Palestine during those early years.
Questions about Yitzhak Navon
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What makes Yitzhak Navon unique among Israeli presidents regarding his ancestry?
Yitzhak Navon is the first Sephardi Jew to hold the office of President of Israel. He was also the first Israeli president born in Jerusalem with ancestors tracing back to Jews expelled from Spain in 1492.
How long did Yitzhak Navon serve as President of Israel?
Yitzhak Navon served as the fifth President of Israel from the 29th of May 1978 until he turned down a second term in 1983. He assumed office after being elected by the Knesset on the 19th of April 1978.
Why did Yitzhak Navon mobilize female soldiers during his time at the Ministry of Education?
Yitzhak Navon ordered the mobilisation of hundreds of female soldiers serving compulsory national service to teach illiterate adults because over 200,000 adults could not read or write. This campaign affected about 12% of the Jewish population when he began fighting illiteracy in Israel.
What role did Yitzhak Navon play during the Sabra and Shatila massacre inquiry?
Navon was an outspoken advocate of a judicial commission of inquiry that probed Israel's role in the Sabra and Shatila massacre perpetrated by Lebanese Falangists in 1982. His diplomatic efforts focused on building bridges between different communities during this turbulent period.