Writer and conspiracy theorist Barry Chamish passed away this Tuesday from an apparent heart attack. He was 64 years old.
Relatives say Chamish was found lifeless in his Florida apartment on Tuesday. No time has yet been set for the funeral.
“With great sadness I must announce the passing of my father, the journalist and writer Barry Chamish, age 64,” Chamish’s son, Ariel, announced via Facebook.
Born in Winnipeg, Canada, Chamish moved to Israel in 1975, becoming a freelance writer and author of more than a dozen books. His work appeared in a number of popular American publications, including The Atlantic, and Chamish was featured in television specials on NBC and FOX.
Chamish was best known for his conspiracy theories regarding the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
Despite an admission of guilt by Yigal Amir, now serving a life sentence, Chamish has claimed that a conspiracy emanating from within the Israeli government plotted the Rabin assassination.
In his 1998 book Who Murdered Yitzhak Rabin? Chamish claims that based on police reports and ballistics evidence, Amir could not have been the killer.
Chamish also alleged other senior Israeli officials, including Rafael “Raful” Eitan, Haim Bar Lev, Leah Rabin, and Rehavam Zeevi were also victims of a vast conspiracy within the Israeli government and Shin Bet security agency.
After publishing his theory regarding the Rabin assassination, Chamish claimed to be the victim of a long-running campaign of harassment by the Shin Bet, which he accused of targeting him for his role in exposing the conspiracy.
Chamish’ work also dealt with UFOs and alleged alien sightings and encounters.