The Story Behind the Iconic Photo
Immediately after the Israel Defense Forces liberated Jerusalem in 1967, and reunited the Jewish capital after two millennia, photographer David Rubinger took one of the most iconic photographs in Israeli history. In the photograph, three IDF paratroopers are depicted witnessing the Western Wall for the first time with a victorious look in their eyes. This is the story of the historical moment that was captured on camera:
10.05.21
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‘The Crying Paratroopers’
On June 7th, 1967, at the end of the Six-Day War, paratroopers Zion Karasenti, Yitzhak Yifat and Haim Oshri from the 66th Battalion of the Paratroopers Brigade were photographed after liberating the Western Wall in Jerusalem. The photograph later came to be known as ‘Paratroopers at the Western Wall’ or ‘The Crying Paratroopers’ in Hebrew. For decades, Jews could not enter the Old City of Jerusalem, and this was the first time that Israelis reached the Western Wall in the young country’s history.
The Battle for Jerusalem
The battle for Jerusalem was one of the most significant battles fought against the Jordanians during the Six-Day War. During the battle for Jerusalem 182 soldiers fell, which represented a quarter of the fallen soldiers of the Six Day war. During the massive battle, which lasted about three days, between the Jordanian Legion and the IDF, the IDF managed to liberate and reunify the city of Jerusalem, including East Jerusalem and the Old City.
At first, the IDF's military strategy was purely defensive, but when the Jordanian army began attacking Israeli territories, ignoring attempts by the Israeli side to negotiate, and violating a ceasefire agreement, Israel responded quickly with a counterattack and liberated large areas of Jerusalem. The 28th of the Hebrew month of Iyar marks the day that the IDF liberated the Old City of Jerusalem and the Western Wall. This was then announced as Jerusalem Day.
Rubinger’s Mission
While vacationing in Egypt, photographer David Rubinger heard a rumor that something big was going to happen in Jerusalem. He jumped into an Israeli Air Force helicopter transporting wounded soldiers on its way to Be'er Sheva, and from there, he drove to Jerusalem to look for the optimal photo opportunity. He took many emotional photographs in those few hours, including one of former IDF Chief Rabbi Shlomo Goren raised up on the shoulders of soldiers, holding a shofar and a Torah scroll. Anni, David’s wife, preferred the photo of the three soldiers above all others, influencing David to publish it for the world to see.
David Rubinger, photo by Shmuel Browns
The Property of the Entire Nation
In reaction to the strong national sentiment that the photograph evoked and its importance in Israeli history, in 2001, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that the photo is "the property of the entire nation” and belongs to everyone.
