Minister of Public Security Yitzchak Aharonovich Thursday appointed Yaakov Genot, a former commander of the Border Police and the Israel Prisons Service, as director of the ministry he heads.
The minister's bureau cited Genot's "proven abilities in creating and managing large projects while overcoming numerous obstacles."
Genot, 63, was born in Romania. He joined the Border Police in 1964 and climbed in the ranks until he became Deputy Commander of the Jerusalem Border Police. He then transferred into the Israel Police and became a district commander. He went on to head the Border Police in 2001-2002 and IPS in 2003-2007 and to serve as director of the Ministry of Transportation.
In 1972, Genot lost an eye on the border with Lebanon, when he tried to extricate a company commander who was ambushed by terrorists. He received a Medal of Merit for this action. In another act of heroism, he entered a minefield in order to extricate a Druze man whose legs had been cut off in a mine explosion. For this act he received the Medal of Distinguished Service.