Businessman Shmuel Harlap passes away at 82
Dr. Shmuel Harlap, former chairman of car importer Colmobil, passed away at the age of 82. Harlap led the company since 1982, invested in Mobileye, and was involved in philanthropy, including a donation of about 600 million shekels to Beilinson Hospital.
Dr. Shmuel Harlap, one of Israel's most prominent businessmen, passed away at the age of 82. Harlap served as chairman of Colmobil, the country's largest car importer, and led its development since 1982. Born in 1944, he held a doctorate in philosophy from Harvard and joined the leadership of the family business in the early 1980s. Under his management, the company transitioned from importing Mercedes to importing Mitsubishi and Hyundai, becoming Israel's largest car importer. Harlap invested in Mobileye and benefited from its sale to Intel. He was deeply involved in philanthropy: in 2025, the couple donated $10 million to the Weizmann Institute and about 600 million shekels to Beilinson Hospital, the largest donation ever given to Israel's healthcare system, for the establishment of the 'Tower of Hope'. He defined himself as a centrist-leftist, published dozens of articles and opinion pieces, and participated in three marathons. He is survived by his wife, two children, and seven grandchildren.