Yaakov Turner Explained

Yaakov Turner (he|{{Script/Hebrew|יעקב טרנר, 27 February 1935 – 27 October 2024) was an Israeli general and politician who served as the mayor of Beersheba. Prior to his election as mayor, he was an Israel Air Force pilot and the country's Chief of Police.^[1] Turner was the founder and head of the Israeli Air Force Museum.^[2]

Early life

Yaakov Turner was born in Kfar Yona, Mandatory Palestine, to Jewish parents from Hungary and Poland. He graduated from Ben Gurion University of the Negev with a major in behavioral sciences.^[3]

Military and police career

Turner enlisted in the Israeli Air Force in 1953 and retired in 1985 as a brigadier general. In the Yom Kippur War he was an F-4 Phantom II pilot, and in the Six-Day War and the War of Attrition, he was the commander of an air combat squadron.

In 1985 he founded the Israeli Air Force Museum in Hatzerim airbase near Beersheba.^[4]

After his military service, he joined the Israel Police, where he became general commissioner (commander of the police) in 1990, a position he held until 1993.Turner served as president of the Israeli branch of the International Police Association.^[5]

Mayor

In 1998, Turner was elected mayor of Beersheba. He was elected on a local list, but with the support of the Israeli Labor Party.^[6] He was re-elected in 2003,^[3] but lost the elections in 2008 to his former deputy mayor, Ruvik Danilovich. Turner won 30 percent of the vote versus 60 percent for Danilovich.^[7]

The Yaakov Turner Sports Complex, named for him, includes the 16,000-seat Turner Stadium, multifunctional sport hall and practice fields.^[8]

Death

Turner died on 27 October 2024, at the age of 89.^[9]

Notes and References

1. Book: Lebel, Udi. Communicating Security: Civil-Military Relations in Israel. 13 September 2013. Routledge. 9781317998228. en.
2. Web site: International Air Cadets Plant Trees at Israeli Air Force Museum . 15 February 2015 . 15 February 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150215183551/http://www.kkl.org.il/eng/about-kkl-jnf/green-israel-news/july-2012/air-cadets-iaf-planting/ . live.
3. News: Beersheva Mayor Yaakov Turner. Russo. Yocheved Miriam. 5 December 2003. Jerusalem Post. https://web.archive.org/web/20160530235643/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-88472200.html. 30 May 2016 . HighBeam Research.
4. News: International Air Cadets at Israeli Air Force Museum. 2 August 2012. The Jerusalem Post. 26 July 2018. 27 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180727024541/https://www.jpost.com/Green-Israel/People-and-The-Environment/International-Air-Cadets-at-Israeli-Air-Force-Museum. live.
5. Web site: International Police Association . 15 February 2015 . 15 February 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150215190140/http://www.ipa-israel.org.il/len/apage/64188.php . live.
6. Web site: Israel Democracy Institute: National and Local Politics . 15 February 2015 . 15 February 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150215185726/http://www.en.idi.org.il/analysis/articles/national-and-local-politics/ . live.
7. News: 'Obama effect' sees 'youth' ousting incumbents. Izenberg. Dan. 12 November 2008. The Jerusalem Post. 26 July 2018. 27 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180727084817/https://www.jpost.com/Local-Israel/Around-Israel/Obama-effect-sees-youth-ousting-incumbents. live.
8. Web site: Municipality of Be'er Sheva . 12 December 2014 . 21 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140821135221/http://duns100.globes.co.il/en/companies-1000870927 . live.
9. https://sheva7.walla.co.il/item/3700071 ראש עיריית באר שבע לשעבר יעקב טרנר הלך לעולמו