David Landau (journalist)

For other people of the same name, see David Landau (disambiguation).

David Landau

David Landau (born 1947) is a London-born Israeli journalist and newspaper editor. Landau was editor-in-chief of the Israeli newspaper Haaretz from 2004 to 2008.^[1] He was the founder and editor-in-chief of the paper's English edition from 1997 to 2004.^[2] Before joining Haaretz in 1997, Landau was the diplomatic correspondent of The Jerusalem Post for 12 years, and its managing editor for four years.

Biography

David Landau grew up in the Golders Green neighborhood of London.^[3] In the early 1960s, he studied at the Haredi Slobodka yeshiva in Israel.^[4] In 1970, after completing a degree in law at University College, London, he settled in Jerusalem. Landau, an Orthodox Jew, is married to Jackie, a rehabilitation teacher of visually impaired children. They have three children.

Journalistic career

Landau was hired as a cub reporter for the paper in 1967, during the Six-Day War. At the time, he was studying at a yeshiva in Bnei Brak and refused to return to England despite his family's entreaties.^[3] Landau was the first Israeli journalist to interview Egyptian president Anwar Sadat.^[5] While working for the Jerusalem Post, he was one of the organizers who staged a walkout of journalists in 1990, claiming the paper's new owner was commandeering its editorial line and seeking to turn the paper into a platform for right-wing views.^[6] Landau's book, Piety and Power: The World of Jewish Fundamentalism, was published in 1993. In 1996, Landau collaborated with former prime minister Shimon Peres on his memoirs, Battling for Peace. Landau stepped down as editor-in-chief of Haaretz in April 2008, remaining a member of the editorial staff. He was replaced by Dov Alfon.^[7] Landau is currently writing a biography of Ariel Sharon commissioned by the New York publishing house, Alfred A. Knopf.^[8]

Controversy

In 2007, Landau stirred up controversy when he reportedly told U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that "Israel wants to be raped by the U.S." in order to achieve a peaceful settlement with the Palestinians and that it would be like a “wet dream” for him to see this happen. In an interview with New York-based Jewish Week, Landau admitted to making a similar remark: "I did say that in general, Israel wants to be raped — I did use that word — by the U.S., and I myself have long felt Israel needed more vigorous U.S. intervention in the affairs of the Middle East."^[9][10][11]

According to The Jerusalem Post, in 2007 Landau said he had told his staff not to report about criminal investigations against Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in order to promote Sharon's 2004–2005 Gaza disengagement plan.^[12][13]

References

1. ^ Haaretz: Israel's Liberal Beacon, The Nation http://www.thenation.com/docprint.mhtml?i=20070924&s=glain
2. ^ Haaretz, Israel: new editor-in-chief - Editors Weblog
3. ^ ^{a b} The Jewish Chronicle
4. ^ Shofar News, 16 Things that Amos Schocken Didn't Know About David Landau, March 30, 2004, p. 14 (Hebrew)
5. ^ UC Berkeley Journalism - Events - David Landau
6. ^ Editor's Note; Outcry Erupts at The Jerusalem Post Over New Publisher's Editorial Bent | New York Times
7. ^ Dov Alfon named as new Haaretz editor-in-chief | Haaretz
8. ^ David Landau keynote speaker page on the Harry Walker Agency Speakers Bureau website
9. ^ Haaretz Editor Urged Rice To ‘Rape’ Israel | The Jewish Week
10. ^ Ha'aretz editor: Israel wants to be raped | Jerusalem Post
11. ^ "I implore You" ... "Israel wants to be raped"
12. ^ Limmud diary: Creme de la Kremlin?
13. ^ Media Matters: Peripheral vision - one Acre and half a dunam

External links

• The chasm within, David Landau, The Jerusalem Post, 13 May 2008
• David Landau at the Internet Movie Database
• Works by or about David Landau in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
• David Landau collected news and commentary at The Jerusalem Post

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Name	Landau, David
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Date of birth	1947
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