DICHTER, AVRAHAM

(Avi Dicter)

(1952- )

Born in Ashkelon, he was awarded for bravery in battle during a long military career, including a period with theIsrael Defense Forces(IDF) eliteSayeret Matkalreconnaissance unit. After his release from the IDF, he joined theShin Bet(Shabak)/General Security Service and studied Arabic. In 1992, he was appointed head of the agency's southern sector, and in that capacity, he oversaw the targeted killing ofYahya Ayash, Hamas's chief bomb maker.In 1996, shortly after the assassination of Prime MinisterYitzhak Rabin, Dichter was appointed head of Shin Bet's Protection Branch. In 1999, he was named the agency's deputy director, and in 2000, he became Shin Bet director. His tenure coincided with theAl-Aksa intifada; he advocated both the policy of the targeted killing ofterroristleaders and the construction of Israel'sWest Bank security barrier.

On 15 May 2005, Dichter completed his five-year term as Shin Bet director and retired from the service; there was some speculation that he was not offered a second term because of his initial opposition, on security grounds, to Prime MinisterArielSharon'sGazadisengagement plan (seeUNILATERAL DISENGAGEMENT [HITNATKUT, TOKHNIT HAHITNATKUT]). At the conclusion of the 100-day "cooling off" period (during which retiring senior government officials and military officers are banned from participating in political affairs), Dichter joined Sharon'sKadimaParty. On May 2006, he became minister of internal security in Israel's government.

See alsoSuicide Bombings; Targeted Assassinations.