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Yaakov Nimrodi

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Yaakov Nimrodi
יעקב נמרודי
Born(1926-06-01)1 June 1926
Jerusalem,  Mandatory Palestine
Died21 August 2023(2023-08-21) (aged 97)
Occupations
  • Businessman
  • Intelligence officer
Known for
  • Chairman of Maariv
  • Arms trade
ChildrenOfer Nimrodi
Military career
Allegiance Israel
Service / branchIsrael Defense Forces
Years of service1940s–1979
RankMilitary attaché (Iran)
Other workArms dealer

Yaakov Nimrodi (Hebrew: יעקב נמרודי, 1 June 1926 – 21 August 2023) was an Israeli businessman and intelligence officer. Nimrodi, the father of Ofer Nimrodi, was the chairman of Maariv, which he acquired in 1992.

Biography

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Yaakov Nimrodi was born in Jerusalem on 1 June 1926,[1] as one of ten children of an Iraqi-Jewish family. He was recruited into intelligence work at the age of 16, by Yitzhak Navon, a childhood friend who later became President of Israel. Nimrodi joined a special unit of the Palmach which specialized in gathering intelligence on Arab countries.[2]

After Israeli independence in 1948, he was assigned to a military intelligence unit in the south of Israel, where he met Ariel Sharon, later Prime Minister of Israel.[3] In 1956, he was appointed the IDF military attaché and Israel Defense Ministry representative in Tehran. There he was involved in Israel's large-scale arms sales to Iran in the 1960s.[3] "No Israeli representative in Iran during the Shah's regime was more significant or influential than Nimrodi."[4] During this time Nimrodi provided "advice and training" to Iran's SAVAK secret service.[5]

Nimrodi died on 21 August 2023, at the age of 97.[6]

Business career

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Nimrodi returned to Israel after the fall of the Shah of Iran in 1979, but continued to be involved in arms trading,[3][7] including a $135 million sale of arms to Iran in 1981.[8] Nimrodi played a central role[further explanation needed] in the early stages of the Iran-Contra affair.[9][10] He published a book on the affair in 2004.[11]

In 1987 Nimrodi acquired Israel Land Development Company for $26m. In 1992, he bought the Israeli newspaper Maariv. [3]

Published works

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  • התקווה והמחד: פרשת איראנגייט, Maariv Publishing, 2004 (Irangate: A Hope Shattered)

References

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  1. ^ Profile of Yaakov Nimrodi
  2. ^ Yaacov Nimrodi: A Tale Of Arms and the Man
  3. ^ a b c d jewishvirtuallibrary.org, Encyclopaedia Judaica: Nimrodi, 2008
  4. ^ Ephraim Kahana and Muhammad Suwaed (2009), The A to Z of Middle Eastern Intelligence, Scarecrow Press, p212
  5. ^ Nigel West (2006), Historical Dictionary of International Intelligence, Scarecrow Press, p223
  6. ^ "יעקב נמרודי הלך לעולמו בגיל 97". Maariv. 21 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  7. ^ Dan Fisher, Los Angeles Times, 28 October 1988. Sharon Linked to '82 Anti-Khomeini Coup Plot
  8. ^ Jane Hunter, November 1986, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, Israeli Arms Sales to Iran
  9. ^ Thomas L. Friedman, New York Times, 11 June 1987, SAVYON JOURNAL; NIMRODI GIVES A PARTY AND ALL THE BIG GUNS COME
  10. ^ Uri Shitrit, The Irangate Affair
  11. ^ Yossi Melman, Haaretz, 20 May 2004, Jackob Nimrodi tells his version
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