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Netanyahu Hails British Christian Zionist "Godfather" of the IDF
(Jerusalem Post) Herb Keinon - The ashes of Lt.-Col. John Henry Patterson, a British Christian Zionist who commanded the Jewish Legion during World War I, were interred along with those of his wife in an official ceremony Thursday at Moshav Avihayil, which was founded by Jewish Legion soldiers. According to Patterson's grandson, Alan, who attended the ceremony on Thursday, one of Patterson's final wishes was to be buried in Israel close to his men, and Prime Minister Netanyahu initiated the move. Patterson was a friend of Netanyahu's father, Benzion Netanyahu. Ze'ev Jabotinsky wrote about Patterson that "never in Jewish history has there been in our midst a Christian friend of his understanding and devotion." At the ceremony, Netanyahu said Patterson was the "commander of the first Jewish fighting force in nearly two millennia. And as such, he can be called the godfather of the Israeli army."