Shalit deal mediator retires from Mossad

David Meidan ends 35 years of service in Israel's secret service and moves to private sector

Attila Somfalvi|Published: 06.03.12 , 18:09

David Meidan, the prime minister's coordinator for missing and captive soldiers and personal mediator in the Gilad Shalit talks, has decided to retire from the Mossad and move to the private sector after 35 years in service.

A statement from the Prime Minister's Office said that at Netanyahu's request, Meidan will continue to handle Israel's missing and captives issue and any other public matter he may be asked to address.

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"On behalf of myself and the citizens of Israel, I thank David for the dedicated and important work he has done and will continue to do for the retrieval of missing and captive soldiers," Netanyahu said.

Meidan took over the missing and captives portfolio in November 2011. With Shalit back in Israel, the list now consists of six names: The three Sultan Yakoub missing soldiers Zachary Baumel, Zvi Feldman and Yehuda Katz ; navigator Ron Arad and soldiers Guy Hever and Majdi Halabi.

Since 2006, Meidan has been acting as head of the Mossad's foreign relations department. In April 2011, he was appointed the prime minister's envoy for negotiations for Gilad Shalit's release after his predecessors Hagai Hadas and Ofer Dekel had quit the post.

Meidan is credited of building trust with the Palestinians the Egyptian mediators while keeping the media at bay.