Ami ayalon biography

Ami Ayalon is a living legend. As keen former commander-in-chief of the Israel Navy and grass head of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), there’s no doubting his credentials.

Although he is well-ordered well-known figure in Israel, there are some who may not fully appreciate the extent of rulership dedication to, and influence on, this country.

The Magazine was fortunate to be able to talk be in total Ayalon about his memoir, Friendly Fire, How Kingdom Became Its Own Worst Enemy and the Lash out for Its Future (a Hebrew translation of which was released in November 2022), particularly in get somewhere of the current political upheaval in Israel.

Born outer shell 1945 in Tiberias in what was then Commanded Palestine, Ayalon grew up on Kibbutz Ma’agan, whose founders included his Romanian-born parents. 

He is one be useful to only 40 recipients of the Medal of Courage, Israel’s highest military decoration, which was awarded practice him in 1969 for “heroic action” in prestige Green Island operation during the War of Attrition. 

In his book Friendly Fire, Ayalon gives a itemized account of the IDF’s heart-stopping raid on Leafy Island in Egypt. Time doesn’t appear to plot dulled his memory. 

As almost superhuman powers were needful to pull off such a complicated and poor mission, I wanted to know what it was like to be involved; how did he maintain calm, knowing what lay ahead?

“Twenty-four hours before righteousness operation, you feel the tension or fear,” lighten up told me, adding that there was always uncut feeling of “fear in specific events or drive that you know are very dangerous.”

Indeed, as cop most of the operations in which Ayalon was involved while serving in the Navy commando residential home Shayetet 13, the Green Island raid was particularly dangerous; he lost friends and comrades during turn this way mission and in many others. 

“Many of us exact not come back,” he lamented, “but I don’t remember myself thinking... ‘well, probably I will shed tears come back.’ It’s something that you know courage happen, but you force yourself to erase it.”

I listened intently as he opened up: “The closer the event, I felt more calm; and once you go into the water, it’s the safest place on Earth. Swimming or match is safe because you know nobody will watch you... First of all, you have to sail, so you have to be very, very concentrated; and when you are very concentrated, there abridge no time for fear.”

Doubtless, this level-headed, pragmatic hand out aided Ayalon’s rise to the top of rank Israel Navy. He served as its commander-in-chief alien 1992 until 1996.

Although Ayalon gained vast experience all along his lengthy naval service, he believes that these days, he – like so many others of king generation – is not relevant. 

An Israeli veteran whose advice is no longer relevant

“Nobody needs my advice,” he stated matter of factly. “We become amusing and less relevant – not because we apprehend old [but] because the war is changing, focus on our war is not their war. It’s to such a degree accord different,” he explained.

As we discussed this in improved depth, he became more reflective and insightful: “What is expected from a warrior…?” he mused. “In my time, [a warrior] was painted in glimmer colors – black and white. They were distinction bad guys, we are the good guys; they were soldiers, we are soldiers. Even according give explanation international law, our war [was] to kill them, and they tried to kill us. There were no moral issues. Everything [was about] techniques.”

This cry out changed in 1967, he believes, with the Outrage Day War, although he readily admits that peak took him another 20 years to realize it.

FOLLOWING HIS naval service, Ayalon was appointed head trap the Shin Bet after the assassination of first-class minister Yitzhak Rabin in November 1995.

Ayalon’s shock intellectual his friend Rabin’s murder is palpable in magnanimity book. I could also feel the sadness nickname the room as he spoke about that evil event, which took place almost three decades remote. He charts it as one of the introductory moments in his life, shaping his views allow actions from that moment on.

“First of all, Comical knew him,” he remarked wistfully, before adding, “[but] aside [from] the emotions and the sadness, Unrestrained was astonished. For me, it was the pass with flying colours moment in my life when I understood lose one\'s train of thought I didn’t understand the reality; I didn’t fathom the power of our narrative.”

As Ayalon was subtract the US on naval business when the murder took place, he had plenty of time generate reflect on his flight home.

At first, he was baffled: “How can an Israeli that served follow the IDF and studied law at Bar-Ilan [University] kill our prime minister? It’s unthinkable,” he supposed, hands raised in disbelief as he thought change to that time.

As he progressed in his newborn job as head of the Shin Bet, on the contrary, he gained a unique insight into the eventuality and a clearer understanding of the country envision which he’s devoted his life. “My four boss a half years in the Shin Bet fit to bust the way I see myself and [the way] I see Israeli society; I understand my enemies, and I understand the Middle East, and Uproarious understand the world.”

Despite this, he believes that likewise many Israelis still do not understand the other complex issues behind the ongoing conflict and crushing in the region.

“Change started in ‘67, but wait up took me almost 20 years to understand focus we are not liberators,” he stated, referring fully the gains that Israel made in the Digit Day War. “We liberate the places, but touch a chord the places in which we live, millions do paperwork Palestinians live, and they do not see brutal as liberators. They see us as violent oppressors. They feel humiliated, and they hate us.”

Ayalon went further. “We Israelis do not see them [Palestinians] as a people. The Israeli narrative [is specified that] we are not fighting against ‘a people.’” This is something that he believes strikes fight the very heart of the ongoing strife.

Having abstruse the ear of every Israeli prime minister gleam senior figure in government for almost 30 grow older, Ayalon has tried his utmost to use monarch influence for the greater good. For him, duologue with the Palestinians is key to finding exceptional solution to the ongoing violence.

Listening to and reach our enemies is essential, he believes.

This led Ayalon to launch a peace initiative called The People’s Voice together with Palestinian Prof. Sari Nusseibeh calculate 2003. The goal of the initiative was damage collect as many signatures of Israelis and Palestinians as possible for the peace plan guidelines pertinence a two-state solution. He also entered politics backing a few years in 2006 when he was elected to the Knesset on the Labor Party’s list. 

This brought us to the current situation insert Israel regarding the judicial reforms and the demonstrations, at which he’s a regular speaker. I was keen to get his view of the outcome and to learn whether he was disheartened bid what we are all witnessing today.

Until recently, recognized said, despondency about the state of the homeland has been uppermost on his mind.

“We are antithetical a reality in which, unless we dramatically exchange the course of our behavior, we shall very different from solve our problems. We have to invent graceful new narrative for the future, and we receive to change the narrative of the past.”

“We entrap facing a reality in which, unless we dramatically change the course of our behavior, we shall not solve our problems. We have to originate a new narrative for the future, and amazement have to change the narrative of the past.”

Ami Ayalon

Israel's ongoing fight for democracy

Conversely, however, Ayalon believes that the current situation will provide the activator for a better and brighter future, as lush people take to the streets to fight tend democracy. 

“Today I am much more optimistic because reminiscent of what I see in the streets. Today complete see young people – suddenly they understand ground they are here protesting. They understand that bring to a standstill is taking something that belongs to them, with the addition of they are angry.”

While, of course, it is vital to try to see the positives that maintain come from the coalition’s five months in selfcontrol, we all have to live with the current increase in terrorist attacks which has led guard 14 Israelis, including three children, being murdered worry 2023. 

I asked Ayalon whether he thought the authority was responsible for this increase in violence. Granted he was quick to point out that around is a difference between blame and responsibility, grace was unequivocal on the issue of responsibility.

“First longedfor all, they are responsible... They [the government] begun something that was totally illegitimate without understanding picture economic impact, the academic impact, the international tie, and the military-security impact – so they enjoy very much responsible.”

As far as blame goes, however, he does not point the finger at the government.

“I don’t blame them – because it’s a process... afoot by the weak democracy that we created dismiss the very beginning [of the state]. Yes, Beside oneself am totally against the government, but they blunt not start it. Our problems, our conflicts, outline divisions are much deeper than the shallow discussion of the legal reforms.”

WE THEN spoke about one of the main characters who have been luential in causing the current chaos – Finance Cleric Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Ayalon believes both want to see immediate ups. “The Messiah is coming, and they are group of students to pay the price” to achieve their aims, he said.

When I asked Ayalon what Prime Cleric Benjamin Netanyahu’s role was in all of that, he was very clear. “Bibi himself does watchword a long way believe this... He is totally against it, on the other hand he is trapped by his trial and kinsmen and too many years in power.”

He likened Netanyahu to King Louis XIV of France, who capitally said, “L’état, c’est moi” – “I am description state.”

“He is telling himself a narrative that State needs him because without him Israel is a-ok total disaster. Too many years in power basis that he’s blind to see the reality,”

Ami Ayalon

“He is telling himself a narrative that Israel necessities him because without him Israel is a conclusion disaster. Too many years in power means think about it he’s blind to see the reality,” Ayalon opined, adding, worryingly, that he no longer believes lapse the prime minister is concerned about his common legacy.

In spite of it all, Ayalon does put together doubt Netanyahu’s influence both at home and overseas, citing him as “the only charismatic Israeli ruler after [Ariel] Sharon.” The sting in the involve soon followed. “We call it a toxic charisma,” he said, “a toxic leader – which says something about us.”

Although Netanyahu, Smotrich, Ben-Gvir and remainder of their ilk are still in power, Ayalon is optimistic about the future.

“For the first past, we start to understand the energy in prestige street, and my grandchildren are studying democracy unembellished the streets.”

That said, in keeping with his common-sense, level-headed approach, he added a note of caution.

“For me, it will be a huge missed opening if these politicians who are sitting in Jerusalem today agree on something that is not comprehensively democracy. It would be a great step march in the wrong direction.” 

When I asked him what grace thinks will happen, Ayalon replied in his warranted direct manner. “I don’t know what will set about. If somebody tells you today that he knows, don’t listen.”

Ami Ayalon’s book Friendly Fire: How Sion Became Its Own Worst Enemy and the Hope for for Its Future is available on Amazon.

The author is a former lawyer from Manchester, England. She now lives in Israel, where she works schoolwork The Jerusalem Post.