Yitzhak Ironi, director general of Israel’s Defense Ministry, died of a heart attack this morning in his suite at the Regency Hotel here. He was 53 years old, Ironi, who arrived here with Defense Minister Shimon Peres last week, but did not leave with Peres last night for Israel, called an Israeli official with the Defense Ministry at 8:10 this morning complaining that he did not feel well. Ten minutes later he was found dead by a driver who was sent to pick him up to take him to a doctor.
Born in Poland, Mr. Ironi came to Palestine in 1932. He received a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University in New York, He was director general of the Ministry for four years. He was director general of the Israel Military Industries (TAAS) from 1967-71 and had been deputy director general from 1953-67. He served in the Haganah and the Israel Defense Force from 1940-50.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.