Ori Orr

Ori Or (אורי אור, born 22 April 1939) is a former Israeli general and politician. During his service with the Israel Defense Forces he headed the Northern and Central Commands, and as a Member of Knesset for the Labor Party he chaired the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee and was appointed Deputy Minister of Defence.

Biography
Or was born in Kfar Haim in 1939. He was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces in 1957, serving with the Armored Corps. During the Six-Day War he commanded 7th Brigade, which advanced through the northern shore of the Sinai Peninsula. In the War of Attrition he commanded an armored battalion in the Sinai and the Jordan Valley. He was made Lieutenant Colonel in August 1973, becoming the commander of the newly formed 679 (reserve) Brigade, which he led during the Yom Kippur War.

Following the Yom Kippur War, Or was assigned to command 7th Brigade. In 1976 he was made commander of an armored division on the Golan Heights, with the rank of Brigadier General, and later served as Chief of Staff of Central Command. In 1981 he was advanced to the rank of General, heading Central Command between 1981 and 1983 and Northern Command between 1983 and 1987, partly during the First Lebanon War.

Or is the author of two biographical books: "Follow Me" [1994] (Hebrew: אחרי), and "These are My Brothers" [2003] (Hebrew: אלה האחים שלי).

Political career
Or retired from the army after 30 years of service. He served as the Director General of the Jewish National Fund from 1987 until 1992, and as a member of the board of directors of Israel Aerospace Industries between 1988 and 1991. He enlisted in the Labor Party, serving on its campaign staff during the 1988 elections. In the 1992 elections he was elected to the Knesset, serving as chairperson of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee. After Shimon Peres installed his government, following Prime Minister Rabin's assassination, Or was made Deputy Minister of Defence. He retained his seat in the 1996 elections, while his party was in the opposition, and lost his seat in the 1999 elections.

Between 1999 and 2003 he was chairman of the board of Israeli Aerospace Industries.