Amnon Abramovich
Amnon Abramovich | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 15, 1951 Kibbutz Nir Am, Israel |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, political analyst, publicist |
| Years active | 1970s–present |
| Known for | Political commentary on Channel 12; investigative journalism in Israeli politics |
Amnon Abramovich (; born September 15, 1951) is an Israeli journalist, political analyst, and publicist. He currently holds the position of political commentator for the news outlet broadcasting on Channel 12.
Biography
Abramovich was born on Kibbutz Nir Am to its founding members before relocating at a young age to Kiryat Ata. In 1969, he joined the IDF, serving within the Armored Corps. During the Yom Kippur War, he operated as a tank driver in Battalion 409 under Lt. Col. Uzi Ben Yitzhak. On October 9, 1973, amid combat near the Suez Canal, he sustained severe burns but persisted in driving his tank, displaying remarkable bravery. For his actions, he was awarded the Chief of Staff Medal.
After undergoing an extensive rehabilitation process that included approximately 60 surgical procedures, Abramovich resumed his legal education at Tel Aviv University. He obtained his law license in 1978 following internships with both the Tel Aviv District Attorney's Office and a private civil law firm.
His entry into journalism began during his university years with contributions to the student newspaper "Yatoosh" as well as the weekly supplement "Durban" of "Yediot Aharonot." In 1977, he joined "Al HaMishmar," advancing to deputy editor of its "Hotem" supplement by 1978 and contributing to the monthly publication "Monitin." Abramovich transitioned to "Maariv" in 1981, where he served as political correspondent, London bureau correspondent, and senior commentator. He opposed the First 1982 Lebanon War and published a report that postponed an operation targeting Abu Jihad. Abramovich also uncovered the Shin Bet's involvement in the Kav 300 affair and revealed information regarding the Jonathan Pollard and Hakam incidents. He departed from "Maariv" in 1994 in protest against a wiretapping scandal involving unauthorized recordings of employees, subsequently joining Channel One as a commentator. Since 2003, he has been a commentator on Channel 12 news, frequently appearing on the Friday night program "Ulpan Shishi."
Politically aligned with Israel’s left wing, Abramovich’s commentaries have led to legal actions advocating for equitable representation of viewpoints on Channel One. In 1995, a petition resulted in Channel One committing to include diverse perspectives; however, a subsequent petition in 1996 was dismissed.
Exposés and notable mentions
Two weeks following the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, Abramovich published testimonies from Yigal Amir, his brother Hagai Amir, and Margalit Har Shefi. These accounts reiterated Benny Alon's assertion that Avishai Raviv was a Shin Bet operative codenamed "Champagne." Publishing this material without prior approval from military censors led to questioning; however, no charges were filed after Abramovich expressed regret and committed to future compliance. He later expressed remorse over releasing this information, concerned it might have benefited right-wing factions.
Approximately six months before the disengagement plan, in February 2005, Abramovich stated that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon—the principal architect of the plan and under investigation for corruption—should be safeguarded "like an etrog" until its completion. This position attracted criticism, including from journalist Nahum Barnea. Abramovich defended his stance in May and July of that year, underscoring Sharon’s strategic significance despite ongoing allegations. His use of "compromise" became emblematic of perceived media bias and overlooking corruption for political objectives.
On July 8, 2006, Abramovich disclosed that President Moshe Katsav had met with Attorney General Menachem Mazuz to report alleged blackmail by a former chief of staff, an event that eventually led to Katsav's conviction.
In August 2010, together with Roni Daniel, Abramovich exposed the forged "Galant Document," which aimed to undermine acting Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi during a leadership contest with Maj. Gen. Yoav Gallant. The document was leaked by Col. (res.) Gabi Siboni, whom Abramovich described as a trustworthy and apolitical source.
Following the announcement of the Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu joint list for the 19th Knesset elections in December 2012, Abramovich published an alleged secret agreement between Netanyahu and Lieberman regarding rotation of the Prime Minister role; this claim was later disproven.
In a February 2013 interview with Haaretz, Abramovich emphasized his journalistic focus on "the occupation and its price," aiming to raise public awareness on significant issues.
During 2017, he reported on developments related to investigations into Prime Minister Netanyahu, including billionaire Ronald Lauder’s subpoena at Shimon Peres' funeral and changes in testimony by Arnon Milchan.
In August 2017, impersonator Yossi Vider released a recording of a phone conversation with Abramovich in which Vider posed as former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, announcing a bid for Labor Party leadership. While Abramovich agreed on ending Netanyahu's tenure during the call, he later stated he recognized it as a hoax immediately. Vider disputed this claim and released the full recording.
Criticism
During the July 2014 Operation Protective Edge, approximately 150 to 200 demonstrators gathered outside the Hadashot 2 studio to specifically protest against Abramovich. Later, in September 2016, at the military court in Jaffa during the Elor Azaria trial, Abramovich faced verbal attacks from numerous protesters, necessitating police intervention on both occasions.
Legal proceedings
In 1996, Pinchas Fischler accused Abramovich of making defamatory statements concerning his position as director of Prime Minister Netanyahu's office. Fischler initiated both civil and criminal legal actions; however, after Abramovich issued a public on-air apology in 2000, Attorney General Elyakim Rubinstein decided to discontinue the criminal charges.
The Shalem Center brought a lawsuit against Abramovich and Hadashot 2 in 2010, seeking 4 million NIS over remarks that suggested the center was connected to capital-government dealings. The dispute was resolved through a settlement in which Abramovich retracted his comments.
Additionally, Benny Katsover filed a defamation claim after Abramovich attributed to him the statement "Rabin and Peres should be put before a firing squad." In January 2023, the Central District Court ruled that Abramovich must compensate Katsover with 15,000 NIS plus cover legal expenses.
Personal life
Abramovich lives in Ramat Hasharon with his spouse, Prof. Rachel Tselnik-Abramovich, who is a retired professor of classical studies at Tel Aviv University, along with their two children.
An avid football fan, he supports Maccabi Haifa and has contributed as a commentator during the early seasons of "The Press Stand."