Ehud Olmert

Ehud Olmert (in Hebrew ???? ??????; born in 1945) serves as the Deputy Prime Minister, the Finance Minister of the State of Israel and as Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor, as well as being the Minister responsible for the Israel Lands Administration, and the Israel Broadcasting Authority.

Related Topics:
Hebrew - 1945 - Deputy Prime Minister - State of Israel - Israel Broadcasting Authority

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ehud Olmert was elected as a member of the sixteenth Knesset in January 2003.

Related Topics:
Knesset - 2003

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He served as the head of the election campaign for the Likud Party in the elections, and subsequently was the chief negotiator of the coalition agreement. From 2003-2004, he also served as Minister of Communications.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Born in Israel, Ehud Olmert is a graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem with degrees in Psychology, Philosophy and Law. He has had his own successful law practice in Israel.

Related Topics:
Hebrew University of Jerusalem - Psychology - Philosophy - Law - Law practice

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Olmert was first elected to the Knesset in 1973 at the age of twenty-eight and was re-elected seven consecutive times. He served as Minister of Minorities (1988-1990) and as Minister of Health (1990-1992). Between the years 1981-1988, he was a member of the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee and has also served on the Finance, Education and Defense Budget Committees.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

From 1993 to 2003, Ehud Olmert served for two terms of office as Mayor of Jerusalem, during which time he devoted himself to the initiation and advancement of major projects in the city, the development and improvement of the education system and the development of road infrastructure. He also spearheaded the development of the light rail system in Jerusalem and the investment of millions of shekels in the development of mass transportation options for the City.

Related Topics:
Light rail - Shekel - Mass transportation

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On August 7, 2005, Olmert was appointed as acting Finance Minister of Israel, replacing Benjamin Netanyahu, who had resigned in protest against the planned Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4129448.stm, http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L07609985.htm Olmert, who had originally opposed withdrawing from land captured in the Middle East War of 1967, and who had voted against the Camp David Peace Accords in 1978, is a vocal supporter of the Gaza Pullout. "I voted against Menachem Begin," Olmert said in after his appointment. "I told him it was a historic mistake, how dangerous it would be, and so on and so on. Now I am sorry he is not alive for me to be able to publicly recognize his wisdom and my mistake. He was right and I was wrong. Thank God we pulled out of the Sinai." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/12/AR2005081201546.html?nav=rss_print/asection

Related Topics:
August 7 - 2005 - Finance Minister of Israel - Benjamin Netanyahu - Protest - Planned Israeli withdrawal - Gaza Strip - Middle East War of 1967 - Camp David Peace Accords - 1978

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mr. Olmert is married and the father of four.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~