Israeli spymaster and Mossad founding father David Kimche dies at 82
U.K.-born Kimche was among among those who designed the Mossad agency's doctrine and modus operandi.
By Yossi Melman Tags: Israel Mossad Jewish World Israel newsFormer top Mossad operative David Kimche, one of Israel's top diplomats and a classic intelligence and spymaster, died Monday at the age of 82.
Kimche, the youngest of nine siblings, was born in 1928 to a Zionist family in London. He immigrated to Israel at the age of 18 and shortly after joined the War of Independence as a combat fighter.
After the war, he studied at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and later co-authored a book titled "Both Sides of The Hill, with his brother John, detailing the diplomatic and military developments of the war.
Their take on the war was the first of its kind, lending the perspective of both sides in an attempt to present a more balanced approach to the conflict.
Kimche joined the Mossad spy agency in the early 1950s, and was in essence one of the organization's founding fathers, among those who designed its doctrine and modus operandi.
He was involved in just about every aspect of the Mossad over the course of his service, eventually reaching the position of deputy head of Mossad.
While serving in the Tsomet department responsible for running agents, he recruited and operated agents which were sent to infiltrate Arab countries.
While in the Mossad's Tevel Unit - serving as liaison with foreign espionage agencies - Kimche was involved in enhancing cooperation with Mossad's counterparts throughout the world.
He was sent by the unit to serve in Africa under a borrowed identity, - presenting himself as a journalist - during the 1960s, an era when the continent was extremely important to Israeli diplomacy.
Kimche also was involved in operations of the Mossad's Bitzur Unit, which is responsible for the security of Jews around the world, and for their immigration from Arab states.
He was also one of the founders of the Mossad's research department.
Kimche was a classic intelligence man, similar to the style of the characters described by the British author John le Carre in his spy novels.
He was a man of soft words, who was known for his elegant English accent and courteousness. These qualities would sometimes deceive people, as he could be very cunning, determined, and even cruel.
During the 1950s Kimche was involved in exposing Avri Elad, an Israeli intelligence officer who betrayed his comrades, enabling the Egyptian security services to Arrest a network of local Jewish youth working for the Israeli intelligence. Two of them were hanged.
In 1957 Kimche was in Germany, attempting to recruit a German with Nazi background in order to send him to Egypt to spy for the Mossad. Kimche learned of Elad's relations with the Egyptian military attaché in Germany and this expose lead to Elad's investigation and eventually he was arrested and sentenced to ten years in prison.
In 1965 a coup occurred in Zanzibar, an Island off the coast of Africa, which was at the time ruled by a Muslim minority, decedents of Arab slave merchant. The rulers maintained a pro-Arab policy. So it happened, Kimche was in Zanzibar during the coup, and rumors started circulating that he was involved in assisting the rebels.
A decade later, Kimche played a central role in establishing Israel's secret ties with the Christian Phalangists in Lebanon, which provided the groundwork for Israel's military invasion of that country in 1982. Like other Israelis, he was eventually disappointed by their performance and betrayal.
Kimche left the Mossad in 1979, after almost 30-years, due to a quarrel with the then Mossad Chief Yitzhak Hofi. Shortly after his retirement, Foreign minister Yitzhak Shamir, who he knew from their Mossad days, appointed him the foreign ministry's director general.
Kimche was Israel's point man in the Iran-contra affair, in which Washington authorized Israel to sell U.S. weapons to Iran in violation of an international embargo. The sales were an attempt to induce Iranian-backed guerrillas in Lebanon to free American hostages, but some of the proceeds went to fund anti-communist Contra rebels in Nicaragua.
Kimche left the foreign ministry after six years turned to private business, amongst other places in Africa and the Persian Gulf, and continued to serve in various public capacities.
In his last years, Kimche was involved in initiating peace talks with the Palestinians, he was the president of the Israel Council of Foreign Relations, and two years ago he signed a petition supporting talks with the Hamas.
He was married twice, and is survived by his wife and four children. He will be buried on Wednesday at 2PM in Kibbutz Shefayim cemetery in a state ceremony.
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David Kimche |
| Photo by: (AP/Archive) |
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A better title for that post might be, "I don't need to know anything about Lebanon. Islamophobia is enough." Read this tidbit about anti-Armenian prejudice and tell me how concerned the Phalange are with sharia. http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2009/06/anti-armenian-bigotry-in-deformed.html
In memory and honor as well for Barak during 1972 Olympics. We need to honor all our greats. Another person who did work for Israel was Heath Ledger who also revealed his work in Batman. The scene where the garbage trucks hitting the police cars in New York is the mafia taking out the cops in York. That Gothem was York town and the undercurrent was sold out cops. Heath had all the notes on his script he used for rehearsal. The movie also lists the other underscores. He being dead this can be revealed. Is Barak our Minister still is that he or his family we are so proud of. I saw and revealed. We spoke with the Black September group and Red September group I didnt know there were too.Both want life different in positive for their people.Positive. One said how long did it take you to find out Arian race was Iranian not German.I said I was reading. He said arent you suprised.Yes really I am. We want peace we have the missles that lock on to heartbeat pattern and specific dna.Rankoo-Karoon
The article's remarks about Zanzibar are incorrect. The putsch did not take place in 1965 but in 1963, led by a self-appointed "field marshal" John Okello. Thousands of Arabs and Indians were massacred. The crimes were documented by the Italian director Jacopetti and shortly afterward shown in the film "Africa Addio" - a sequence so horrible that I will never forget it. The putsch was not about "pro-Arab policy" or because the Arabs were "descendents of slave-merchants". It was purely racist, Zanzibar lost almost all of its economic ties and has never recovered from the downfall. It is interesting that Kimche allegedly was on the spot at that time, but I doubt that he could have directed the putsch in any way. Fairy tales and intelligence work stick together like rubber and glue.
http://www.zanzibarhistory.org/Affrica%20Addio%203.jpg As the text indicates, the Haaretz article contains a minor error. The 'coup' happened in 1964, not 1965. But good work, all the same. You SHOULD be proud.
The Phalangists,who were responsible for the blood bath in Sabra/Shatila,have gotten off scott free. No one ever mentions their culpability in the deaths of those in the camp. There is an easy answer for this lapse in history...why blame the phalangists when there were Israeli's around? The "Longest Hatred" continues as it has for thousands of years.
That 1965 'coup' in Zanzibar consisted of a wholesale massacre of the Arab population by the Black population. The footage is horrifying. Interesting that you seem to take pride in having helped to bring it about.
A good Jew would know that after a person dies one is both morally and ethically expected not to speak ill of them. Kimche was a man of clear conviction and experience that places him head and shoulders above any paltry shut minded apology of a Zionist. He understood implicitly as a Zionist and lover of this country, that the occupation was and is corroding our nation. Please G-d we should all be as clear minded and our intellect as sharp when we reach this age. We all owe Kimche much - not all of it known in detail to the nation. Yehi Zichro Baruch
RIP D. Kimche. He truly supported the Christian militias in duress; obviously, each player at that time had his own agenda, but we wont open this debate over here. let this remain as a neat page en hommage to Kimche, one of very few israelis who positively influenced the Christian positions in early 80's.
The Phalangists owed nothing to Israel back in the early 80's? Really? As I remember it, the Maronites had lost control of the country in all but a few enclaves that were also the target of Syrian- and Palestinian-supported militias. Remember the massacre in Zahle. South Lebanon was a (terrorist) state within a state. Israel's mistake was to believe Bashir Gemayel when he assured them that he would lend his support in exchange for his ascension to power. The invasion allowed him to take the presidency but, with the exception of the farsighted South Lebanon Army, the Phalangists didn't lift a finger, preferring to let Israel do the fighting. Bashir was killed, the Phalange took out their murderous rage on women and children in Sabra and Shatila, and since then, Lebanon has fallen prey to Syrian and Iranian control. Looking at poor Lebanon today, all I can say is "nice move" compared to the peace you could have had with Israel.
The Phalangists were Israel's allies during the 1982 war. Unfortunately they proved to be incompetent soldiers, and bloodthirsty muderers as demonstrated in Sabra and Shatila. Funny how the whole world takes Israel to task for Sabra and Shatila, while the Phalangists who actually did it get off easy. I guess no one expects anything better from them. I hope they enjoy living as dhimmis in Hezbollah's sharia state!
he was heading the israeli team discussing "peace treaty" with lebanon after the israeli invasion of Beirut. his elegant appearance and well spoken english did not deceive anyone at the time, he was a hypocrit representing hipocrits.
"Kimche played a central role in establishing Israel's secret ties with the Christian Phalangists in Lebanon, which provided the groundwork for Israel's military invasion of that country in 1982. Like other Israelis, he was eventually disappointed by their performance and betrayal." their performance?! lol, do you think they were your employees? their betrayel?! that is even funnier, they did not betray their country, and they owe you nothing.
we also have to listen to the older generation as we don't have all the answers.