Benny Begin
Ze'ev Binyamin "Benny" Begin, PhD (Template:Lang-he, born 1 March 1943) is a former Israeli politician and the son of former Prime Minister of Israel Menachem Begin. A geologist by training, Begin was first elected to the Knesset in 1988 as a Likud MK. In 1993 he ran in the Likud primary to succeed Yitzhak Shamir as party leader but was defeated by Benjamin Netanyahu. He served as Science Minister under Netanyahu from 1996, when Likud returned to power, until 1997 when he resigned to protest against the Hebron Agreement.
He subsequently led hardliners out of the Likud with the hope of reviving the Herut political party founded by his father. With full support from former Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, Herut – The National Movement departed from the Likud and joined other right-wing parties to form an alliance opposing the Oslo Accords, the National Union. As a result of the National Union only earning four seats in the 1999 election, Begin resigned his seat and quit politics. Herut has since been led by Michael Kleiner. After leaving politics Begin resumed his career in science and education, and was appointed Director of the Geological Survey of Israel.
See also
External links
- Benny Begin on the Knesset website
- 'Benny' Begin leaving politics after poor showing in elections 21 May 1990
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