Yedidya Ya'ari

Major General Yedidya Ya'ari (ידידיה יערי, born 30 June 1947) was the commander of the Israeli Navy from 2000-2004. He was succeeded by David Ben Ba'ashat.

In July 1969, as a commando in Shayetet 13, he was badly wounded and mistakenly declared dead during Operation Bulmus 6 - the assault on fortified Green Island, Egypt, in the Gulf of Suez (jointly with Sayeret Matkal).

After retiring from active army service, Ya'ari worked as an assistant cameraman for three years at Herzliya Studios. During the Yom Kippur war he re-joined the IDF. Ya'ari is president of defense firm Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.

Ya'ari is the grandson of Meir Ya'ari, former leader of the Mapam party. He is the father of three and lives in Merhavia.