Giora Tzahor
Mordechai Vanunu
photo: Meir Azulay
Agent who helped capture Vanunu killed in accident
Former Mossad agent Giora Tzahor who headed Israel's efforts to capture atom spy killed in car crash
Giora Tzahor, a special ops Mossad agent who headed Israel's efforts to capture and try atom spy Mordechai Vanunu was killed in an accident on Monday.
According to a Tuesday report in Yedioth Ahronoth, Tzahor, 70, was killed when a he was hit by a car while riding his mountain bike in central Israel.
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Back in 1986, Tzahor headed the mission to find Vanunu – who had fled to London – and bring him to justice.
A female Mossad agent lured the spy to Rome, where he was eventually apprehended.
Tzahor took part is dozens of the intelligence agency's special operations. In the late 1970s he was named deputy director of the Kidon ("spear") Unit, which according to foreign publications is the agency's "assassination squad." He later became the unit's director.
Tzahor also headed a heroic operation during the Six Day War. His tank unit came across Jordanian tanks in Nablus and though outnumbered, his unit was able to destroy seven enemy tanks. He was severely injured in the battle. Six years later, he was awarded the Medal of Valor.
Tzahor will be laid to rest on Tuesday evening in the Hadera Cemetery.
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