Amnon Lipkin-Shahak
A soldier turned peacemaker, he commanded Israel's army before navigating the treacherous path of politics as a moderate voice.
1944–2012 (age 68)·Israeli chief of staff, politician·Birthday: March 18·The Silent Generation
Biography
Amnon Lipkin-Shahak was forged in the crucible of Israel's wars. A decorated paratrooper, he rose through the ranks of the IDF with a reputation for cool-headed leadership during some of the nation's most tense conflicts. His appointment as Chief of Staff in 1995 placed him at the helm during a fragile period of the Oslo peace process. After hanging up his uniform, he surprised many by entering the political arena, serving in the Knesset and as a cabinet minister. His transition from military command to political office reflected a personal evolution, as he became a public advocate for pragmatic solutions and dialogue, even when such positions were unpopular. His life traced the arc of modern Israel itself, from battlefield to negotiating table.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Amnon was born in 1944, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Amnon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1944
#1 Movie
Going My Way
Best Picture
Going My Way
Amnon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1944Born
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1949Started school
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1957Became a teenager
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1960Could drive
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1962Could vote
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1965Turned 21
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1974Turned 30
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 40
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 50
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 60
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2012Died at 68
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
Key Achievements
- Served as the 15th Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces from 1995 to 1998.
- Was awarded the Medal of Distinguished Service for his actions as a battalion commander in the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
- Served as Israel's Minister of Transportation and later as Minister of Tourism in the early 2000s.
Did You Know?
He was the first IDF Chief of Staff to be born in the state of Israel after its independence.
His surname 'Shahak' was added later in life, combining his original name with that of his wife, Tali Shahak.
He was a skilled amateur painter and held several exhibitions of his artwork.
“A strong defense is the only guarantee for a peace worth having.”
