Zvi Zamir, an Israeli spymaster who played a key role in the aftermath of the 1972 Munich Olympic massacre, has died at the age of 98. Zamir led a covert campaign by Mossad agents to strike back at Palestinian terrorist networks following the deadly attack. He was widely praised for maintaining discipline and focus within Mossad during this challenging time. Zamir’s counterstrike, codenamed “Wrath of God,” lasted over a decade and resulted in the killing of more than a dozen suspected Palestinian militant leaders. Among them was Ali Hassan Salameh, the alleged mastermind behind the Munich attack. Zamir’s death was announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, but no further details were provided.
The Munich attack took place on September 5, 1972, when Palestinian gunmen stormed the Olympic Village, killing 11 Israeli athletes and coaches. Two Israelis were killed during the initial attack, and nine others were taken hostage. The standoff lasted nearly 20 hours before it ended in a deadly firefight between West German snipers and Palestinians at an airfield. All the captives and five militants from the Black September faction were killed.
Zamir, who had taken over as Mossad’s chief in 1968 and served until 1974, was deeply affected by the events in Munich. He described the sight of the attack on German soil as “terrible” and mobilized Mossad to retaliate against Palestinian targets. Although Israel never publicly acknowledged its role, Zamir made it clear that Mossad was more aggressive after Munich. He stated that those involved in the attack “definitely deserved to die” and that the focus was on preventing future acts of terrorism.
In addition to his involvement in the Munich aftermath, Zamir faced other challenges during his tenure as Mossad chief. He was embroiled in high-level rifts over whether a tip he received from an Arab informant could have better prepared Israel for the Yom Kippur war in 1973. Despite facing intense public inquiry and internal investigations, Zamir was credited for his discipline and leadership within Mossad.
Zamir’s career in intelligence began as a member of Palmach, a guerrilla-style force within Haganah, a Jewish paramilitary group. He fought in battles against Arabs in and around Jerusalem during his teenage years. He also served time in British custody for his involvement in smuggling Jewish immigrants to the region. After Israel’s statehood, Zamir rose through the military ranks and held various positions, including military attaché in London during the 1967 war.
After leaving Mossad in 1974, Zamir pursued a career in the private sector and served on various commissions, including the Shamgar Commission investigating the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. He remained loyal to Prime Minister Golda Meir, defending her against criticism for Israel’s military missteps before the Yom Kippur War.
Zamir’s death marks the end of an era in Israeli intelligence. His contributions to Mossad during a tumultuous time in Israel’s history will be remembered, and his legacy as a dedicated spymaster will live on..
