David Meidan (born 1955[citation needed]) is a former Mossad official, serving as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coordinator on the issue of POWs and MIAs. Served as personal representative of Prime Minister Netanyahu in the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange - negotiations for the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, and was perceived as bringing closure to the deal. Recently, Meidan was also appointed as special envoy to Turkey in an effort to bring back warm relations between Israel and Turkey.[1]
Biography edit
Born in Egypt to Nathan and Rose Mosseri. In 1957, he made Aliyah with his family to Israel. Served in the army in Unit 8200.[citation needed] In the Mossad, he served in part as a Collecting officer in the "Tzomet" division, responsible for recruiting and activating agents and was responsible for several branches of the Mossad abroad. In 2006 he became head of the Mossad's "Tevel" division, the branch responsible for External Relations with peer organizations around the world.[citation needed] In his capacity he was involved in activities related to Gilad Shalit, who was captured by Hamas in June 2006.[citation needed]
In April 2011, Meidan was appointed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as successor to Hagai Hadas as his representative in the negotiations to release Gilad Shalit, and was a key member of the Israeli delegation who worked with government officials in Egypt outlining the deal for Shalit's release.[2] As part of his role he met with the various parties, and was in touch with the Shalit family. After six months of activity in this position, an agreement between Israel and Hamas was reached, signed on 6 October 2011, in which Shalit was released in return for the release of 1,027 Palestinians terrorists imprisoned in Israel. After the swap-deal was approved by the Government of Israel, Meidan went to Egypt to coordinate the technical arrangements of the swap. He was the first Israeli representative to receive Gilad Shalit at Kerem Shalom border crossing.[citation needed]
In November 2011, he was appointed coordinator on behalf of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the issue of POWs and MIAs.[3]
Meidan is married to Daphne, and a father of two daughters.[citation needed]
References edit
- ^ Ya'ar, Chana (October 11, 2011). "Can David Meidan's Mediation Magic Help Israel and Turkey?". Israel National News. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
- ^ "נתניהו מכנס את שרי השביעייה לדיון בעסקת גלעד שליט" (in Hebrew). May 15, 2011. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08.
- ^ "דוד מידן - האחראי על נושא השבויים והנעדרים" (in Hebrew). November 20, 2011. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08.
External links edit
- Ron Ben-Yishai, Behind the scenes of the Shalit deal, Yediot Ahronot, 13 October 2011