I can only think that the ecstasy induced by the initial success in reclaiming HaKotel was responsible for a few moments of fantastical joy that saw the departure of both the instinct for good survival and necessary thought towards preservation and security. This applies both to Dayan and the cabinet members. It should be a lesson in never giving in fully to celebration.

By all means, let’s celebrate that miraculous 1967 Six Day War victory, but as this particular aspect of it shows, there’s no room for romanticism or elevation of humans, no matter how strong, admirable and ethical, to hero status.

Dayan’s military genius and heroism is not in question.
Just his judgement on this fateful political decision.

I quess what I’m saying is because this will be widely read, I would hate to think his role as a faithful soldier of Israel was besmirched. If in consultation it was passed by the cabinet then the onus was not soley upon him and there’s absolutely no denying the price paid, the whole nation born of blood, sweat and tears not forgetting terroism.

Lynne,

The fact that this issue is not raised in the book you refer, so what?

What would you call allowing the Waqf to retain control over the Temple Mount to be?
I say profound stupidity.

Dayan’s actions does not say much about the members of the Israeli cabinet at the time who allowed his decision to prevail.

After all the blood, sweat and tears shed to defend the country, capture the Temple Mount and in the end, just let the Muslims control this holiest site in all Judaism, is beyond comprehension.

In my treasured book written by Israel I Taslitt, Soldier of Israel nowhere does it mention this “act of stupidity”.
The dateline ends one year after the six day war when attending the Mitzvah of the son’s who had lost their fathers and his powerful speech in recognition of their lives given “in having a country, a nation and an army devoted to their welfare and safety and one day becoming the men their fathers would be proud of in peace and security, in the glory of the State of Israel among the nations of the earth”.
That doesn’t sound like an intentional act of stupidity or betrayal to me…..and I’m sure whenever it was he would’ve come to deeply regret it.

But then Moshe Dayan did the incredible, he allowed the Muslim Waqf to retain control of this site.
So now in 2015, those memorable and inspiring words by Gur:”The Temple Mount is in our hands!” has in reality been changed by one word: “The Temple Mount is not in our hands.”

One act of stupidity by Dayan led to the mess that Israel faces today.
The Temple Mount is Jewish territory from time immemorial and should be reclaimed again. One cannot talk of a united and indivisible Jerusalem as long as the Temple Mount is controlled by the Waqf, an Islamic bunch that denies Jewish access to this holy site lest those Jews be seen as moving their lips in prayer.

Israel held all the cards in 1967 but has since squandered the lot in the headlong rush to appeasement.