David Kimche

David "Dave" Kimche (14 February 1928 – 8 March 2010) was an Israeli diplomat, deputy director of the Mossad, spymaster and journalist.[1] He is believed to have been the main contact between the United States and Iran during the Iran-Contra affair.[2] Kimche was president of the Israel Council on Foreign Relations, and a member of the steering committee of the International Alliance for Arab-Israel Peace.

David Kimche
Born(1928-02-14)February 14, 1928
London, England
DiedMarch 8, 2010(2010-03-08) (aged 82)
Ramat HaSharon, Israel
EducationM.A., Ph.D.
Alma materHebrew University of Jerusalem
OccupationDiplomat, intelligence agent and journalist
Known forInvolvement in the Iran-Contra affair

Biography

David Kimche was born in England. His birth was registered in Hampstead, London between January and March 1928, with his mother's maiden name given as Palast. In addition to holding an M.A. (cum laude) and a Ph.D. in international relations from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Kimche studied at the Centre de Hautes Etudes Administratives sur l’Afrique et l’Asie Modernes (C.H.E.A.M.) of the University of Paris.

Kimche died of brain cancer at his home in Ramat HaSharon, near Tel Aviv, on 8 March 2010 at the age of 82.[1]

Diplomatic and public career

Kimche joined Mossad, Israel's foreign intelligence service, in 1953. While in the foreign intelligence service, he served in a number of postings in Africa, Asia and Europe. Kimche moved up the ranks to eventually become Mossad's deputy director. In 1980 Kimche left Israel's foreign intelligence service. He became the director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, holding that post from 1980 to 1987.[3] Kimche was appointed ambassador-at-large of the State of Israel in 1987 and served a number of missions, especially in Arab countries.

In 1989, Kimche founded the Israel Council on Foreign Relations under the auspices of the World Jewish Congress to serve as a policy forum for visiting dignitaries and scholars. Kimche became the publisher of a bimonthly journal, the Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs. He was a member of the board of governors and management committee of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, board of governors of the Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace in Jerusalem, and board of directors of Maariv (a daily newspaper published in Tel Aviv) and a member of the executive board of the Peres Center for Peace.

References
  1. Isabel Kershner (March 9, 2010). "David Kimche, an Israeli Adept as Spy and Diplomat, Dies at 82". The New York Times. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
  2. "Israeli 'spymaster' dies aged 82". BBC News. 2010-03-09.
  3. Joffe, Lawrence (2010-03-10). "David Kimche obituary". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-09-26.
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