Michael Harari facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Harari
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| מייק הררי | |
from right to left: Michael Harari, Wolfgang Lotz and his wife, Zalman Shazar, and Meir Amit.
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| Born | February 18, 1927 |
| Died | September 21, 2014 (aged 87) Tel Aviv, Israel
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| Nationality | Israeli |
| Occupation | Intelligence officer |
| Employer | Mossad |
| Known for | failed Lillehammer affair rescue of hostages at Entebbe |
Michael Harari (Hebrew: מייק הררי; February 18, 1927 – September 21, 2014) was a key Israeli intelligence officer. He worked for the Mossad, which is Israel's national intelligence agency. Harari was involved in several important missions. These included a difficult event known as the Lillehammer affair and the successful rescue of hostages during Operation Entebbe.
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Early Life and Training
Michael Harari was born in Tel Aviv on February 18, 1927. This was during a time when the area was called Mandatory Palestine, under British rule. When he was 13, he joined a Jewish defense group called the Haganah. His job was to carry messages between different units.
In 1943, Harari joined the Palmach. This was a special fighting force of the Haganah. He took part in a raid in 1945 to free 208 Jewish people. These people were held by British authorities as illegal immigrants. He also participated in a mission called the Night of the Bridges. British authorities arrested him several times. Eventually, he was sent to Europe to help Jewish people secretly move to Palestine. This was known as Aliyah Bet.
Joining the Mossad
After Israel became an independent country, Harari served in the Israel Defense Forces. He also worked for the Shin Bet, Israel's internal security agency. In the 1960s, he was recruited by the Mossad.
While at the Mossad, he managed secret agents in Europe. He eventually became the head of the Operations Branch. During this time, he helped create and lead teams for Operation Wrath of God. This operation aimed to find and bring to justice those believed to be responsible for the Munich Massacre in 1972.
The Lillehammer Mistake
In 1973, Harari led a team into Norway. They believed they had found Ali Hassan Salameh. He was a leader of Black September operations. The team identified and acted against their target. However, it was later discovered they had mistakenly killed an innocent waiter named Ahmed Bouchiki. He only looked like Salameh.
Norwegian authorities arrested many members of Harari's team. But Harari managed to escape back to Israel. A case against him in Norway was later dropped in 1999. This was due to a lack of evidence.
Entebbe Rescue and Other Missions
Despite the setback in Norway, Harari achieved two major successes for the Mossad. In July 1976, a rescue mission called Operation Thunderbolt was launched. Its goal was to free Israeli hostages held at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda. Before the mission, Harari reportedly disguised himself as an Italian businessman. He entered the airport to gather important information. He also helped arrange for Israeli planes to refuel in Kenya after the rescue mission.
In January 1979, Harari led another team. This team successfully located Ali Hassan Salameh in Beirut, Lebanon. He was the same person Harari had tried to find years earlier in Lillehammer. The operation resulted in Salameh's death. Sadly, four innocent people nearby were also killed, and 18 others were injured.
Later Life
At some point, Harari became the Mossad station chief for Latin America. He was based in Israel during this time. It is believed he retired from service after this role. However, it is not fully clear if he completely cut ties with Israeli intelligence. He moved to Panama for a period.
Harari returned to Israel around the time of the 1989 United States invasion of Panama. This event led to a change in leadership in Panama. Harari later appeared on Israeli television. He denied being a close advisor to the former Panamanian leader, Manuel Noriega. He also stated that he escaped Panama on his own.
Michael Harari was portrayed by actor Moshe Ivgy in the 2005 film Munich. This movie shows events related to Operation Wrath of God.
Harari passed away at his home on September 21, 2014. He was 87 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Michael Harari para niños
