Yosef Amit
Encyclopedia
Yosef Amit is a former IDF military intelligence major who was convicted of espionage in 1987. Amit is thought to have spied for the United States, though this has never been confirmed by the Israeli government.
Amit was born in Kiryat Bialik in 1945. After studying at the Naval Officers' School in Acre, he was drafted in 1963, serving in the paratroopers and then the navy. In 1967 he left the IDF to work as a policeman, rejoining the army in 1970. Amit was injured in Lebanon in 1972. He worked as an army intelligence officer from the Yom Kippur War until 1979, when he transferred to Shin Bet. He studied at the University of Haifa
from 1982 to 1984, when he dropped out to work as a private investigator.
Amit was recruited in the 1980s after he met an American naval officer in Haifa
, and told him about his experience in intelligence. The officer told his superiors, and then told Amit that he wished to settle in Germany
and to start a business. Amit suggested that they do business together, which he agreed. Amit travelled to Germany sometime later, where he met the naval officer, who introduced him to his "friends", which were in fact CIA officers from the U.S. Embassy in Bonn
, where he was successfully recruited. His handler was Tom Waltz, a Jewish CIA officer based in Tel Aviv
. Amit provided the CIA with classified information about Israel's troop movements and future plans in Lebanon
and the Palestinian territories
. As well as classified military documents, Amit also stole top-secret materials from Shin Bet, Israel's internal security service. In 1986, a friend of Amit's reported to Shin Bet and the Israel Police
that Amit had told him about ties with American intelligence. Amit was subsequently arrested, and during his interrogation, made a full confession and provided the names of individuals he had met with, as well as meeting locations and dates, and the payment he had received. When his house was searched, classified military and Shin Bet documents were found. Amit was sentenced to 12 years in prison after a lengthy closed trial (at the time 15 years was the maximum sentence). Israel's Supreme Court rejected an appeal by him in 1989. He was released in October 1993 after having served two-thirds of his sentence. The case was kept secret on security grounds until June 1993, when the Israeli government allowed the publication of Amit's name, conviction, and sentence in response to a petition from the publishers of Haaretz
.
At one point, Israeli officials considered offering to exchange Amit for Jonathan Pollard
, but rejected the idea.
In 1990 Amit sued Yedioth Ahronoth and Maariv for libel over articles those papers had published in 1986 stating that an IDF intelligence major had been convicted of spying for Syria. Although the articles didn't mention Amit by name, Amit contended in his suit that prison guards and fellow prisoners had formed the connection, and the false accusation that he had spied for Israel's worst enemy had severely hurt his reputation and led other prisoners to harass him. Like Amit's trial, this case was kept secret until June 1993. Amit dropped the suit in June 1993 after the papers agreed to publish corrections.
Amit was born in Kiryat Bialik in 1945. After studying at the Naval Officers' School in Acre, he was drafted in 1963, serving in the paratroopers and then the navy. In 1967 he left the IDF to work as a policeman, rejoining the army in 1970. Amit was injured in Lebanon in 1972. He worked as an army intelligence officer from the Yom Kippur War until 1979, when he transferred to Shin Bet. He studied at the University of Haifa
University of Haifa
The University of Haifa is a university in Haifa, Israel.The University of Haifa was founded in 1963 by Haifa mayor Abba Hushi, to operate under the academic auspices of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem....
from 1982 to 1984, when he dropped out to work as a private investigator.
Amit was recruited in the 1980s after he met an American naval officer in Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
, and told him about his experience in intelligence. The officer told his superiors, and then told Amit that he wished to settle in Germany
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...
and to start a business. Amit suggested that they do business together, which he agreed. Amit travelled to Germany sometime later, where he met the naval officer, who introduced him to his "friends", which were in fact CIA officers from the U.S. Embassy in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
, where he was successfully recruited. His handler was Tom Waltz, a Jewish CIA officer based in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
. Amit provided the CIA with classified information about Israel's troop movements and future plans in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and the Palestinian territories
Palestinian territories
The Palestinian territories comprise the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988, the region is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries as the State of Palestine or simply Palestine, although this status is not recognized by the...
. As well as classified military documents, Amit also stole top-secret materials from Shin Bet, Israel's internal security service. In 1986, a friend of Amit's reported to Shin Bet and the Israel Police
Israel Police
The Israel Police is the civilian police force of Israel. As with most other police forces in the world, its duties include crime fighting, traffic control, maintaining public safety, and counter-terrorism...
that Amit had told him about ties with American intelligence. Amit was subsequently arrested, and during his interrogation, made a full confession and provided the names of individuals he had met with, as well as meeting locations and dates, and the payment he had received. When his house was searched, classified military and Shin Bet documents were found. Amit was sentenced to 12 years in prison after a lengthy closed trial (at the time 15 years was the maximum sentence). Israel's Supreme Court rejected an appeal by him in 1989. He was released in October 1993 after having served two-thirds of his sentence. The case was kept secret on security grounds until June 1993, when the Israeli government allowed the publication of Amit's name, conviction, and sentence in response to a petition from the publishers of Haaretz
Haaretz
Haaretz is Israel's oldest daily newspaper. It was founded in 1918 and is now published in both Hebrew and English in Berliner format. The English edition is published and sold together with the International Herald Tribune. Both Hebrew and English editions can be read on the Internet...
.
At one point, Israeli officials considered offering to exchange Amit for Jonathan Pollard
Jonathan Pollard
Jonathan Jay Pollard worked as a civilian intelligence analyst before being convicted of spying for Israel. He received a life sentence in 1987....
, but rejected the idea.
In 1990 Amit sued Yedioth Ahronoth and Maariv for libel over articles those papers had published in 1986 stating that an IDF intelligence major had been convicted of spying for Syria. Although the articles didn't mention Amit by name, Amit contended in his suit that prison guards and fellow prisoners had formed the connection, and the false accusation that he had spied for Israel's worst enemy had severely hurt his reputation and led other prisoners to harass him. Like Amit's trial, this case was kept secret until June 1993. Amit dropped the suit in June 1993 after the papers agreed to publish corrections.