Uri Avnery Journalist, Israeli pacifist Date of Birth: 10.09.1923 Country: Israel

1. Early Life and Political Activism
2. Political Career
3. Journalism Career
4. Controversies and Legacy
5. Personal Life

Early Life and Political Activism

Uri Avnery, born as Helmut Ostermann in 1923, was the son of an affluent German-Jewish banker. Following the Nazi rise to power in 1933, the family relocated to Palestine.

Inspired by Zionism, Avnery joined the Jewish underground organization Irgun at age 15. However, he resigned in protest due to the Irgun's "anti-Arab" and "reactionary" views and methods.

In 1946, Avnery founded the "Young Israel" movement, which advocated for cooperation between Arab and Jewish nationalist movements. He also coined the term "Semitic region" to replace the "Middle East," which he saw as a colonialist term.

Political Career

Avnery was a Knesset member for three terms between 1965 and 1981. He consistently opposed the Israeli political mainstream, evolving from right-wing views in his youth to ultra-left in his later years.

He became known for his radical anti-Zionist and pro-Palestinian views. Avnery supported the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel and advocated for Israel's integration into a federation of Middle Eastern states.

Journalism Career

Avnery served as a journalist for the newspaper "Ha'aretz." He established the weekly "HaOlam HaZeh" ("This World") in 1950, which became a prominent platform for his political and social commentary.

Avnery's writings often criticized Israeli policies and advocated for peace. He famously interviewed PLO leader Yasser Arafat in 1982, which sparked controversy in Israel.

Controversies and Legacy

Avnery's political views and writings have been met with both support and opposition. Some admire him as a courageous peace activist, while others criticize his anti-Zionist stance and his past admiration for Hitler and Stalin.

Despite the controversies, Avnery remains a controversial and influential figure in Israeli politics and journalism. His legacy as a "veteran peace fighter" and a "leading spokesman for Israeli peace forces" is contested but widely acknowledged.

Personal Life

Avnery resided in Tel Aviv until his passing in 2018. He never married and had no children. His only brother, Werner, died during World War II while fighting in the British army in Ethiopia.