סיפורו של מחמד אל־מצרי : צוהר להפעלת "ציידי הטנקים" במלחמת יום הכיפורים

Abstract

This article sheds light on the story of Muhammad al-Masri, an Egyptian war hero, who served as a “tank hunter” and destroyed 27 Israeli tanks during the October War of 1973. Al-Masri symbolizes the boldness of the Egyptian soldiers who fought against Israel, as well as the success of the surprise moves that were planned by the Egyptian generals and caught the Israeli soldiers off guard in the first stage of the war. The article will present a thorough discussion of Egyptian combat doctrine, the training of the “tank hunters,” and the character of the Egyptian model of heroism. These doctrines and models will be demonstrated through reference to encounters between Egyptian and Israeli soldiers in the very first clashes of the war, especially al-Masri’s encounter with the Israeli anti-hero lieutenant colonel Asaf Yaguri, who was captured by the Egyptians immediately after the destruction of his tank by al-Masri. These concepts will also be examined in view of the portrayal of decorated soldiers and officers in the Egyptian discourse and media. Thus, this article seeks to illuminate factors that may partly explain the nature of the “cold peace” between Egypt and Israel.