Yossi Bachar of Kibbutz Be’eri, a major general in the reserves and former Deputy Commander of the Southern Command, awakened on Saturday, October 7, 2023, to the sound of explosions at the kibbutz. He put his uniform on, cocked his rifle, and assembled other fighters and armed residents of the kibbutz to battle the terrorists among the houses and in the surrounding fields. In face-to-face confrontations, they killed some 15 terrorists at close quarters.
Bachar fought selflessly until forces from the IDF and special units arrived. When the battle was won at Be’eri, he drove to the Southern Command headquarters and continued his work at the war room there.
Previously, Bachar had held several key positions, serving as commander of the Paratroopers Special Unit, commander of the 101st Battalion, commander of Maglan, commander of the Paratroopers Brigade, commander of the Galilee Division, Chief Infantry and Paratroopers Officer, commander of the Gaza Division, and commander of the General Staff Corps.
By his actions, Bachar admirably demonstrated the principles of leading from the front line and reacting skillfully in the face of live fire.
