Zvi Zamir oversaw a programme of Israeli assassinations
The former director of Mossad, who oversaw a programme of covert assassinations, died on January 2nd, aged 98
He would never forget what he saw at Munich. Zvi Zamir had always been a details man. Even when he was head of Mossad, his reports were meticulous. He noted everything, success and failure alike. But particularly failure: that he felt keenly. And the 1972 Olympics, when some of the Israeli team were taken hostage, offered such terrible details, and so much failure.
Explore more
This article appeared in the Obituary section of the print edition under the headline “The wrath of God”
Obituary January 27th 2024
From the January 27th 2024 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionDiscover more
Yoshioka Masamitsu saw Pearl Harbor from the air
The last of the attackers on the “day of infamy” died on August 28th, aged 106
Maggie Smith, the dowager countess of comic timing
She could transform herself into anyone, hilariously
Elias Khoury encapsulated the confusions of the Middle East
The Lebanese novelist and activist for Palestinians died on September 15th, aged 76
Francisco Lopera’s travels in the Andes began to solve a great mystery
The Colombian neurologist and Alzheimer’s researcher died on September 10th, aged 73
Sérgio Mendes sent Brazil’s party spirit out into the world
The pianist, arranger and bandleader died on September 5th, aged 83
Simon Verity believed in working the medieval way
The stonemason and grotto-builder died on August 11th, aged 79