Yitzhak Yifat, paratrooper in the iconic photo of the Six-Day War, dies at the age of 81

Dr. Yitzhak Yifat, 81, one of the three paratroopers immortalized in an iconic photograph taken at the Western Wall during the 1967 Six-Day War, died on Saturday, Israeli media reported. The media say he died of illness, without giving further details.

Yifat, born in 1943, left his mark on Israel’s history not only through his actions but also through his image. The photograph by David Rubinger, which has become a symbol of Israel’s victory and the reunification of Jerusalem, shows him in the centre, a young man with a fresh face, looking in amazement at the Western Wall. Next to him stood his paratrooper comrades Tzion Karasenti and Chaim Oshri.

This image captured a crucial moment in Israeli history, symbolizing the recapture of the Old City of Jerusalem and regaining access to Judaism’s holiest site after nearly 2,000 years. After the war, Yifat pursued a medical career and became a gynecologist in Kiryat Malachi. Despite his fame from the photo, he led a quiet life, devoted to his profession and family.

For many Israelis, Dr. Yifat’s death marks the end of an era. He embodied not only the courage and dedication of the soldiers of 1967, but also the realization of a dream of the Jewish people.