Articles and Interviews by Correspondent who Accompanied Arik Sharon in Sinai during the Six-Day War, and ...

Articles and Interviews by Correspondent who Accompanied Arik Sharon in Sinai during the Six-Day War, and Journalistic Materials around the Yom Kipur War
Handwritten notes by Oded Kapelyuk, IDF Radio correspondent who accompanied Arik Sharon on the southern front during the Six-Day War. Among others, Kapelyuk drove in Sharon's command car for three days during the Um Katef (Abu Ageila) battle.
* Eighteen page handwritten article, describing the days he spent with Sharon, the Um Katef battle moves, and Sharon's personality, that impressed him deeply. At the conclusion of the article, Kapelyuk relates that after the victory "we sat next to an Egyptian trench. 'To tell the truth,' Arik said in a hoarse voice, almost in a whisper - my mood isn't good after seeing this 'valley of death'. An hour earlier he led the troops to victory… called on them vigorously to destroy the enemy. From that moment on I consider myself one of Arik Sharon's admirers." This article is presented in two versions - one consisting of 18 handwritten pages with many corrections, and a 14 page version, missing the first page, a carbon copy with corrections. The article was eventually published in Maariv, on June 23rd, 1967.
Also included are fragments of Kapelyuk's notes from the time: a three-page column titled "with Arik on the Half-Track - Armored Corps in the heart of the Sinai," three pages, numbered 4-6, with a different description of the same days with Sharon; and an extra page, (numbered 7), from another manuscript.
The Um Katef battle is considered one of the most brilliantly led battles in the IDF's history, and is studied in various military academies around the world. The Israeli victory in that battle deeply affected ensuing battles in the Sinai Peninsula in the following days.
* Six page article "Where the Hell is the Front?" describing how the war broke out when Kapelyuk was in a military infirmary, and was sent by the IDF Radio to bring stories and recordings from the front. Kapelyuk describes the drive south following Southern Front Commander, Major-General Yeshayahu Gavish's car, until, with the help of a friend, a major, he managed to get a seat in Gavish's car. The story was published in Davar, on June 21st, 1967 (enclosed).
* Over 40 pages of transcriptions of recording during the war, and several notes, including the transcription of an interview held in Tel HaShomer with regiment commander Natke Nir, who was severely injured in both legs in the battle of Battle of Um Katef, but recuperated and served as brigade commander in the 1973 War; an interview with Mordechai Tzipori, commander of the 14 brigade, about the Um Katef Battle; interview with armored corps regiment commander Sasson Yitzhaki, and more.
* Improvised sign reading "IDF Radio", drawn of the verso of a military form.
* Yom Kipur War - photocopy of the transcription of the "meeting of the chief of staff with military correspondents, on October 28th, 1973, at 15:00." Classified as 'secret,' second of three copies. According to the text, this was the first meeting of the chief of staff with military reporters since the end of the war. Among the journalists: Zeev Shif, Eitan Haber, Nachman Shai. The meeting was held a week after the start of the Geneva Conference, and ten days after the Agranat Commission was declared. (See next item).
* Handwritten materials dealing with the period following the 1973 War and the Agranat Commission - including transcriptions of talks with Abba Eban, Yigal Alon, Shimon Peres and others.
Various sizes and conditions. General condition: good.