What is happening
Maj.-Gen. Zvi Zamir, who served as the Director of Israel’s Mossad from 1968 until 1974, passed away on January 2, 2024. Zamir was 98 years old at the time of his death, leaving behind a legacy of service to Israel during a critical period of its history.
Why it matters
Zamir’s tenure at the Mossad is particularly noted for his prescient warnings prior to the start of the Yom Kippur War. His alerts, unfortunately, went unheeded by military intelligence. Despite this, he later chaired a committee responsible for implementing significant refinements in the nation’s intelligence services, as recommended by the Arganot Commission, which investigated the military’s shortcomings in the lead-up to the war.
The back story
Zamir was an immigrant from Poland who played an integral role in the establishment of the State of Israel. His early contributions included service in the Palmach during Israel’s War of Independence. Later, he ascended to prominent positions within the IDF before taking on the role of the fourth head of the Mossad.
Life after espionage
After his distinguished career in intelligence, Zamir transitioned to roles in the civil engineering and energy sectors. He served as the CEO of Solel Boneh, a key construction and civil engineering enterprise, and later as CEO of oil refineries. Furthermore, his influence extended into the academic sphere, where he was chairman of both the Institute for Petroleum and Geophysics Research and the Israel Petroleum and Energy Institute.
Personal remembrance
Zamir will be remembered not only for his work in intelligence but also for his contributions to Israel’s infrastructure and energy independence. His passing marks the end of an era for one of Israel’s founding figures.
This story was first published on jpost.com.