Career
Zakai resigned as commander of the Israel Defense Forces"s Gaza Division, a position he had held since March 2004, after failing a polygraph test during an investigation into leaks to the Israeli media during the Days of Penitence operation in the northern Gaza Strip in October 2004. Zakai was accused of leaking reports to the media that the Israel Defense Forces wanted to end the operation before the political echelon did. After resigning as head of the Gaza Division, Zakai was removed from the Israel Defense Forces altogether after 24 years of service, with Yaalon saying that his actions had constituted "an abandonment of a division during combat." He was replaced by Aviv Kochavi, a former commander of the Paratroopers Brigade.
Zakai"s previous positions include:
2002–2004: Commander, Edom Division
1999–2001: Commander, Golani infantry brigade
1998–1999: Commander, Hiram Formation (Northern Command)
1995–1996: Battalion commander, Israel Defense Forces Officer"s School
1993–1994: Deputy commander, Hiram Formation
1981–1994: Served various positions in Golani Brigade, up to battalion commander.
Zakai is a graduate of the Israel Defense Forces Staff College and has a degree in humanities from Tel Aviv University.
