Avraham Ahituv
Encyclopedia
Avraham Ahituv, born Avraham Gottfried (December 10, 1930 – July 15, 2009) was a German
-born Israeli politician, having served as Director of the Shabak
, the Israel Security Agency, from 1974 to 1980.
Ahituv's family immigrated to the British Mandate of Palestine in 1935. In 1946 Ahituv, joined the Haganah
while a student in the Kfar Ha-Ro'eh
seminary, where he completed his high school matriculation test. In 1949 Ahituv joined the Internal Intelligence Service, (SHAI
), founded during the Israeli War of Independence and later became the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet). It was during the conflict period that Gottfried changed his name to Ahituv. Through the 1950s Ahituv served in the Arab division of the Shin Bet. Ahituv was instrumental in adopting a policy of “practical moderation” in relation to the Israeli Arab demographic. This policy was to enable full integration of the Israeli Arab population into Israeli main stream society. Ahituv authorized the use of lies in Israeli courts to cover confessions obtained by torture. In August 1982 a controversial report appeared in the Washington Star, indicating that Ahituv's resignation was caused by the intervention of Prime Minister Begin in the investigations in the bombing of Palestinian town Mayors by Jewish extremist groups. The allegation was denied by both Begin and Ahituv. After Ahituv testified that his resignation had been submitted before the spate of bombs, the Knesset defense dismissed the Washington Star report as "groundless" and having "no basis in fact."
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
-born Israeli politician, having served as Director of the Shabak
Shabak
Sherut haBitachon haKlali , officially known by the acronym Shabak , officially known in English as Israel Security Agency , and commonly known in English as the Shin Bet , is Israel's internal security service. Its motto is "Magen VeLo Yera'e"...
, the Israel Security Agency, from 1974 to 1980.
Ahituv's family immigrated to the British Mandate of Palestine in 1935. In 1946 Ahituv, joined the Haganah
Haganah
Haganah was a Jewish paramilitary organization in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine from 1920 to 1948, which later became the core of the Israel Defense Forces.- Origins :...
while a student in the Kfar Ha-Ro'eh
Kfar Haroeh
Kfar Haroeh is a religious moshav in central Israel. Located in the coastal plain between Hadera and Netanya, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2007 it had a population of 1,500....
seminary, where he completed his high school matriculation test. In 1949 Ahituv joined the Internal Intelligence Service, (SHAI
SHAI
Shai , established in 1940, was the intelligence and counter-espionage arm of the Haganah and the forebear of the Military Intelligence Directorate in Mandate Palestine....
), founded during the Israeli War of Independence and later became the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet). It was during the conflict period that Gottfried changed his name to Ahituv. Through the 1950s Ahituv served in the Arab division of the Shin Bet. Ahituv was instrumental in adopting a policy of “practical moderation” in relation to the Israeli Arab demographic. This policy was to enable full integration of the Israeli Arab population into Israeli main stream society. Ahituv authorized the use of lies in Israeli courts to cover confessions obtained by torture. In August 1982 a controversial report appeared in the Washington Star, indicating that Ahituv's resignation was caused by the intervention of Prime Minister Begin in the investigations in the bombing of Palestinian town Mayors by Jewish extremist groups. The allegation was denied by both Begin and Ahituv. After Ahituv testified that his resignation had been submitted before the spate of bombs, the Knesset defense dismissed the Washington Star report as "groundless" and having "no basis in fact."