Freddy Eytan

Freddy Eytan, (born January 1947) is an Israeli diplomat, former ambassador, writer and journalist.

Early life

Family

Freddy Eytan's family originated in Livorno, Italy, from the early 19th century. His father, Ouzy, was an active Zionist. In November 1942, at the beginning of the invasion of Tunisia by the German army, Ouzy was arrested by the Gestapo. After four months he escaped from a camp localized in the military port of Bizerte. After Liberation, he contributed to Mossad Aliyah Bet, which brought Jews to Israel. In 1956 he established, with friends, a Moshav near Megiddo called Nir Yaffe. Ouzy was the Moshav Secretary for many years and an activist in North Region for Rafi Movement (a political party affiliated with Ben Gurion). This is the Moshav where Freddy Eytan lived during his childhood.

Army

Eytan served from 1965 to 1972 in the Israeli army. After three years in the Northern Headquarters Command he became a press officer and operated under Chief of Staff Major General David Elazar. Eytan participated in battles during the Six Day War in the Golan Heights and Northern West Bank. In 1982, he became a military correspondent and covered the first Lebanon war when the Israeli army invaded Beirut.