Arnan (Herling), Avraham

Son of Nechama and Eliezer, was born on 29 December 1930 in Jerusalem to a traditional family of eight sons, a grandson of one of the prominent activists in the institutions of the Old Yishuv in Jerusalem, who immigrated to Israel in 1905. He joined the Haganah in 1946. Two years later, with the outbreak of Arab hostilities in 1948, Avraham moved to a combat unit, was stationed in an infantry unit and participated in battles in most sectors of Jerusalem. In July 1953, Avraham returned to serve in the IDF as a career soldier, and was sent to the course of intelligence officers, and since then he was associated with the Intelligence Corps and after his successful completion of the course, he was promoted to the rank of major in 1955. In 1958, Avraham established the elite Sayeret Matkal commando unit, which became an elite unit in its counter-terrorism operations. In 1961 he completed a command and staff course and returned to command of the unit until 1964. In 1962 he received the rank of lieutenant colonel. From 1964 to 1965 he was sent to a military training course of the Marines in the United States. On his return, Avraham participated in the Six-Day War. After the war, he was appointed as the head of the intelligence department at the rank of colonel, and during his service Abraham continued to study various languages, with the help of teachers who were placed at his disposal within the framework of the IDF. He studied Arabic, Persian, English, French and Italian. His special ability to learn languages ​​helped him in his positions in intelligence. In 1972 Avraham returned to study in the United States. When he returned to Israel he was loaned to the Prime Minister’s Office as a consultant on terrorism. In this capacity Avraham served in the Yom Kippur War. In December 1974 he was promoted to brigadier general. After completing his term in the Prime Minister’s Office, Avraham left in 1976 on a mission to Africa. Upon his return, he was appointed as a guide in the course of the brigade commanders’ course, during which time his health deteriorated and he needed medical treatment, but even in his illness he continued to fulfill various functions in the IDF. Avraham passed away on 8 April 1980. He was 49 when he died, and was laid to rest at the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. He left behind a wife, two daughters and six brothers.