This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/20/world/middleeast/amnon-lipkin-shahak-israeli-peace-negotiator-dies-at-68.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, a Leading Israeli Peace Negotiator, Dies at 68 Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, Israeli Military Leader and Peace Negotiator, Dies at 68
(about 11 hours later)
JERUSALEM — Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, a former chief of staff of the Israeli military and a cabinet minister who was deeply involved in peace talks with the Palestinians, died here on Wednesday. He was 68.JERUSALEM — Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, a former chief of staff of the Israeli military and a cabinet minister who was deeply involved in peace talks with the Palestinians, died here on Wednesday. He was 68.
His death was confirmed by a spokeswoman at the Hadassah Medical Center in southwest Jerusalem, where he had been treated for cancer.His death was confirmed by a spokeswoman at the Hadassah Medical Center in southwest Jerusalem, where he had been treated for cancer.
Mr. Lipkin-Shahak, who reached the peak of his military career as a general in the mid-1990s, embodied the spirit of that period, when Israel balanced hopes for a permanent peace with the Palestinians against the country’s inherent security challenges.Mr. Lipkin-Shahak, who reached the peak of his military career as a general in the mid-1990s, embodied the spirit of that period, when Israel balanced hopes for a permanent peace with the Palestinians against the country’s inherent security challenges.
In a statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Mr. Lipkin-Shahak “an Israeli hero who dedicated his best years to the security of the state of Israel.”In a statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Mr. Lipkin-Shahak “an Israeli hero who dedicated his best years to the security of the state of Israel.”
Mr. Lipkin-Shahak was deputy chief of staff and chief of staff during the years before and after Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin signed the Oslo Accords, the first peace agreements with the Palestine Liberation Organization. He became an important intermediary between Mr. Rabin and the Palestinian leader, Yasir Arafat, and was an Israeli negotiator at the Camp David summit meeting with the Palestinians in 2000.Mr. Lipkin-Shahak was deputy chief of staff and chief of staff during the years before and after Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin signed the Oslo Accords, the first peace agreements with the Palestine Liberation Organization. He became an important intermediary between Mr. Rabin and the Palestinian leader, Yasir Arafat, and was an Israeli negotiator at the Camp David summit meeting with the Palestinians in 2000.
“There wasn’t anybody that the Palestinians trusted more than Amnon,” recalled Martin S. Indyk, who was involved in the peace process as an American diplomat. “He exuded integrity. He was a warrior in the cause of peace.”“There wasn’t anybody that the Palestinians trusted more than Amnon,” recalled Martin S. Indyk, who was involved in the peace process as an American diplomat. “He exuded integrity. He was a warrior in the cause of peace.”
Mr. Lipkin-Shahak was born in Tel Aviv on March 18, 1944. As a teenager he studied at a military academy in Haifa, and at 18 he joined the military’s paratroop brigade. He served as a paratroop commander during the Arab-Israeli war of 1967 and as a deputy brigade commander in the 1973 war.Mr. Lipkin-Shahak was born in Tel Aviv on March 18, 1944. As a teenager he studied at a military academy in Haifa, and at 18 he joined the military’s paratroop brigade. He served as a paratroop commander during the Arab-Israeli war of 1967 and as a deputy brigade commander in the 1973 war.
He was twice awarded the Medal of Courage, once for his role in a bold operation against Palestinian militant bases in Jordanian territory in 1968, and again for his part in a 1973 assault on militant P.L.O. leaders and their headquarters in Beirut. In the 1973 assault, the Israeli fighters landed from the sea in what is broadly regarded as one of the most daring raids in Israel’s military history.He was twice awarded the Medal of Courage, once for his role in a bold operation against Palestinian militant bases in Jordanian territory in 1968, and again for his part in a 1973 assault on militant P.L.O. leaders and their headquarters in Beirut. In the 1973 assault, the Israeli fighters landed from the sea in what is broadly regarded as one of the most daring raids in Israel’s military history.
Mr. Indyk recalled that when he first met Mr. Lipkin-Shahak during his time as Israel’s military intelligence chief, a post he held from 1986 to 1991, the general was already arguing that Israel would have to recognize the P.L.O. as the legitimate leadership of the Palestinians if it ever wanted to resolve the conflict.Mr. Indyk recalled that when he first met Mr. Lipkin-Shahak during his time as Israel’s military intelligence chief, a post he held from 1986 to 1991, the general was already arguing that Israel would have to recognize the P.L.O. as the legitimate leadership of the Palestinians if it ever wanted to resolve the conflict.
After retiring from the military in 1998, Mr. Lipkin-Shahak turned to politics. He was elected to Parliament as a member of the short-lived Center Party and served as minister of tourism and minister of transport in a coalition government led by the Labor Party. He quit politics after Ariel Sharon was elected prime minister in 2001 but continued to advocate for a peace deal with the Palestinians.After retiring from the military in 1998, Mr. Lipkin-Shahak turned to politics. He was elected to Parliament as a member of the short-lived Center Party and served as minister of tourism and minister of transport in a coalition government led by the Labor Party. He quit politics after Ariel Sharon was elected prime minister in 2001 but continued to advocate for a peace deal with the Palestinians.
Frustrated by a lack of progress, he joined an initiative by peace advocates and former Israeli and Palestinian officials that culminated in the 2003 Geneva Accord, an unofficial outline of a peace treaty.Frustrated by a lack of progress, he joined an initiative by peace advocates and former Israeli and Palestinian officials that culminated in the 2003 Geneva Accord, an unofficial outline of a peace treaty.
He is survived by his wife, Tali Lipkin-Shahak, a journalist, and five children.He is survived by his wife, Tali Lipkin-Shahak, a journalist, and five children.