Former Haaretz editor David Landau dies, 67

Former editor in chief of Haaretz David Landau has passed away. He was 67 years old.

Born in the UK, Landau studied law in university. In Israel he worked as a reporter for the Economist and also as diplomatic correspondent for the Jerusalem Post, where he later became managing editor. He led a walkout of journalists over management intervention in editorial content in 1990.

In 1993 Landau joined Haaretz and in 1997 established the paper’s English edition. He took over as editor-in-chief of the Hebrew edition in 2004 and held the post until 2008.

David Landau, author of “Arik: The Life of Ariel Sharon” (Photo credit: wikicommons)

Landau authored “Piety and Power” on the world of ultra-Orthodox Judaism in 1992, and a biography of Ariel Sharon, “Arik,” last year.

Landau was awarded the OBE in 2014.

Former president Shimon Peres, with whom Landau worked on two books including his autobiography, described him as “a rare person, deeply religious but also widely liberal.”

Landau is survived by a wife and three children. His funeral will take place on Wednesday, at 4 p.m. in Jerusalem.