Danny Yatom

Danny Yatom was born in 1945 in Netanya

Danny Yatom was born on 15 March 1945 in Netanya and grew up in the city's Ein HaTkhelet neighborhood. His brother Ehud Yatom served in the Knesset for Likud, and another brother, Moshe Yatom, commanded a brigade. He studied mathematics and computer science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

He joined the IDF in 1963 and volunteered for Sayeret Matkal, where he became deputy commander under Ehud Barak and took part in the Sabena hijacking rescue. In 1972 he moved to the Armored Corps and fought in the Yom Kippur War. He was promoted to major general in 1987, headed the Planning Directorate and commanded Central Command from 1991 to 1993.

From 1993 to 1996 he was military secretary to Prime Ministers Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres. He headed the Mossad from 1996 to 1998, including during the 1997 attempt on Khaled Mashal in Jordan. He was the first Mossad head whose name was allowed to be published.

From 1999 to 2001 he led Ehud Barak's political and security staff. He entered the Knesset for Labor in 2003, was reelected in 2006, and ran for the party leadership in 2007. He resigned from the Knesset in 2008.

In January 2021 he announced a new party for retirees but withdrew before the elections. He is married to Tova, has 5 children and lives in Herzliya.