Yaakov Nimrodi
Israeli military attaché (1926–2023)
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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.
Mandatory Palestine- Businessman
- Intelligence officer
- Chairman of Maariv
- Arms trade
Yaakov Nimrodi | |
|---|---|
יעקב נמרודי | |
| Born | 1 June 1926 Jerusalem, Mandatory Palestine |
| Died | 21 August 2023 (aged 97) |
| Occupations |
|
| Known for |
|
| Children | Ofer Nimrodi |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  Israel |
Branch | Israel Defense Forces |
Service years | 1940s–1979 |
Rank | Military attaché (Iran) |
| Other work | Arms dealer |
Biography
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
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
- התקווה והמחד: פרשת איראנגייט, Maariv Publishing, 2004 (Irangate: A Hope Shattered)