Meir Dagan (1945-2016) was a distinguished Israeli military officer and intelligence chief, best known for his tenure as Director of Mossad, Israel's premier foreign intelligence agency, from 2002 to 2011. Born on January 30, 1945, in Akko, Mandatory Palestine, to Polish Jewish immigrants who survived the Holocaust, Dagan grew up in a challenging environment marked by the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. He joined the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) at age 17, serving with distinction in elite units such as the Paratroopers Brigade. Dagan participated in key conflicts, including the 1967 Six-Day War, where he led commando operations, and the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Rising through the ranks, he commanded the elite Rimon Brigade during the 1982 Lebanon War and later headed the IDF's Southern Command. Retiring as a major general (Aluf) in the reserves, Dagan's military career was characterized by bold tactics and a reputation for ruthlessness in counter-terrorism operations.

Appointed Mossad Director by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Dagan transformed the agency into a more proactive force against existential threats, particularly Iran's nuclear ambitions. Under his leadership, Mossad orchestrated high-profile operations, including the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists, cyber attacks like Stuxnet, and the disruption of weapons smuggling networks supporting Hezbollah and Hamas. Dagan's aggressive approach earned him both praise for safeguarding Israeli security and criticism for ethical overreach. He clashed publicly with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over military strikes on Iran, advocating restraint to avoid escalation. Post-retirement, Dagan emerged as a public intellectual, criticizing government policies on settlements and Iran, and supporting peace initiatives. He was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2012 and succumbed to the disease on March 17, 2016, leaving a legacy as one of Israel's most influential spymasters.