New Head of the Gaza Division: Brigadier General Shmuel Zakai
9 March 2004
An exchange of command ceremony took place for the new of the Head of the Gaza Division on March 8, 2004. The ceremony was held in the presence of OC Southern Command, Major General Dan Harel, for Brigadier General Shmuel Zakai, who is replacing Brigadier General Gadi Shamani.
Brigadier General Shmuel Zakai enlisted into the IDF in 1981.
He served in a long list of command positions in the Golani Brigade, up to the rank of battalion commander.
- 1993-1994: Served as the deputy commander of the Hiram Formation.
- 1995-1996: Served as a battalion commander in the IDF Officer's School.
- 1998-1999: Served as commander of the Hiram Foundation.
- 1999-2001: Served as commander of the Golani Brigade.
- 2002-2004: Served as commander of the Adom (Eilat) Division.
Brig. Gen. Zakai is married and a father of two. He is a graduate of the IDF's Staff and Command College, and received a degree in the humanities from Tel Aviv University.