Arkadiy Gaydamak Israeli-French entrepreneur Date of Birth: 08.04.1952 Country: Israel

1. Early Life and Military Service
2. Business Ventures and Controversy
3. Return to Israel and Political Involvement
4. Political Aspirations and Affiliations

Early Life and Military Service

Alexander Gaydamak was born in Moscow and immigrated to Israel in 1972. He briefly lived in a kibbutz before serving in the Israeli Navy.

Business Ventures and Controversy

In 1976, after completing his military service, Gaydamak moved to France and established a translation agency primarily serving Soviet missions. He expanded his business by opening a branch in Canada in 1982.

In the 1980s, Gaydamak forged relationships with the Angolan government and allegedly sold weapons to them despite an international embargo. After the collapse of the USSR, he invested in various projects in the post-Soviet region.

Return to Israel and Political Involvement

In 2000, Gaydamak faced accusations of illegal arms sales to Angola in France, prompting him to flee to Israel, where he acquired citizenship and a luxury apartment in Caesarea. Israel refused to extradite him to France.

Back in Israel, Gaydamak embarked on a spree of business acquisitions, purchasing companies and sports teams such as Beitar Jerusalem football club and Hapoel Upper Galilee basketball team. In 2006, he acquired the newspaper Moskovskie Novosti, which he later closed in 2008.

Gaydamak has dual citizenship in France and Israel, as well as diplomatic passports from Angola and Canada for his economic contributions to those countries. He holds several French honors.

Political Aspirations and Affiliations

In recent years, Gaydamak has actively participated in Israeli politics. He founded the Social Justice movement, aiming to oust the government of Ehud Olmert and support Benjamin Netanyahu of the Likud party. However, he has also expressed support for Amir Peretz of the Labor Party, a political opponent of Netanyahu.