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London-born David "Dave" Kimche, one of the founding fathers of the Mossad, has died in Israel, aged 82. A quiet man, a spy in the mould of John Le Carré's Smiley, Kimche was the man who uncovered the workings of Avri Elad, the Israeli double-agent who worked for the Egyptian intelligence in what was later to become known as the "unfortunate deal". Kimche uncovered Elad by fluke, while he was trying to recruit an ex-Nazi officer to work for the Mossad in Egypt.
Kimche also served as director-general of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, under Yitzhak Shamir, whom he knew from his Mossad days.
With his brother, John, Kimche wrote one of the first books about Israel's War of Independence which was, for its time, highly critical of some of Israel's actions.
Despite living in Israel practically all of his life -- he emigrated there when he was 18 -- Kimche spoke with a thick English accented Hebrew.
May his memory be for a blessing. Baruch Dayan Ha'emet.