AMIT, MEIR

Amit, Meir: translation

(formerly Slutzky)

(1925- )

Born in Tiberias, he joined theHaganain 1936 and was a member ofKibbutzAlonim between 1939 and 1952. He served in Israel'sWar of Independence(1948—1-9) and was appointed commander of the Golani Brigade in 1950 and of the Southern Command in 1955. He later served as commander of the Northern Command and studied business administration in theUnited States. He was head of Israel's foreignintelligence service,Mossad, from 1963 to 1968 and was managing director ofKoor Industriesuntil 1977. He was one of the founding members of theDemocratic Movement for Changein 1976 and served in theKnesset. He served as minister of transport in the 1977 government led byMenachem Beginbut in 1978 left the government and joinedShinui. In 1980, he joined theIsrael Labor Party. Since retirement Amit has remained an active commentator on strategic affairs and currently serves as chairman of Israel's Center for Special Studies.