Politicsרפי איתן

Rafi Eitan

Rafi Eitan was an Israeli intelligence officer and politician who commanded the Mossad operation that captured Adolf Eichmann and later led the Gil party in the Knesset.

1926 to 2019Capture of Adolf EichmannHeading Lekem during the Pollard affairLeading the Gil party

Born: 23 November 1926, Ein Harod
Died: 23 March 2019, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center
Occupation: politician, businessperson, sculptor, spy
Party: Gimlaim
Education: London School of Economics and Political Science
Rank: captain

Rafi Eitan was born in 1926 in Ein Harod

Rafi Eitan was born on Kibbutz Ein Harod. His parents, Noah and Yehudit Hantman, were Zionist immigrants from Russia. The family later moved to Ramat HaSharon, where they ran a farm.

He finished high school at the agricultural school in Givat HaShlosha. He then joined the Palmach and later fought in the War of Independence in the Yiftach Brigade.

After the army he joined the Shin Bet and in 1959 became head of its operations unit. In 1960 he was in charge of capturing Adolf Eichmann in Argentina. He also studied at the London School of Economics.

In 1978 he became an advisor on terrorism to Prime Minister Menachem Begin. In 1981 he was named head of Lekem, the Defense Ministry's scientific relations bureau. He left intelligence after the arrest of Jonathan Pollard, whom Lekem had run, and the bureau was disbanded.

He later headed Israel Chemicals and became a businessman with ventures in Cuba. He led the Gil party, served in the Knesset from 2006 to 2009 and was Minister of Senior Citizens. He was also a sculptor and died in Tel Aviv in 2019.

Milestones in Rafi Eitan's life

1926
Born on Kibbutz Ein Harod.
1944
Joined the Haganah and the Palmach.
1959
Became head of the Shin Bet operations unit.
1960
Was in charge of the capture of Adolf Eichmann.
1978
Became advisor on terrorism to Menachem Begin.
1981
Was named head of Lekem.
1985
Jonathan Pollard was arrested in the United States.
1997
The United States imposed sanctions on him over his business in Cuba.
2006
Entered the Knesset at the head of the Gil party.
2019
Died in Tel Aviv.

Rafi Eitan served in the military

He joined the Palmach in 1944, took part in the Atlit detainee raid and the Night of the Bridges, and was left almost deaf by a mine blast. In the War of Independence he served in the Yiftach Brigade as a platoon commander and intelligence officer and was badly wounded.