Ezer Weizman

{{Audio|He-Ezer_Weitzman.ogg|Ezer Weizman}} (??? ?????) (Tel Aviv, June 15, 1924 – Caesarea Maritima, April 24, 2005) was the seventh President of the State of Israel (1993-2000). He was a nephew of Chaim Weizmann, Israel's first president.

Political career

After his retirement from the army he joined the Gahal party (Gush Herut Liberalim; this later became the Likud) and served as Minister of Transportation in Levi Eshkol's national unity government until Gahal left the coalition in 1970. He lead Gahal-Herut up to 1972 and then left the party. He returned to Herut on 1976 and in 1977 served as Defence Minister in Menachem Begin's government. During his tenure, Israel launched Litani Operation against PLO terrorists in south Lebanon and initiated the development of the IAI Lavi fighter. Weizman was one of the promotors of the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty with Anwar Sadat. At this stage he became dovish.

Related Topics:
Gahal - Likud - Levi Eshkol - National unity government - 1970 - Herut - 1972 - 1976 - 1977 - Menachem Begin - Litani Operation - PLO - Terrorist - Lebanon - IAI Lavi - Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty - Anwar Sadat - Dovish

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In May 1980 he quit the government. He considered establishing a new party with Moshe Dayan and as a result was expelled from Herut. Between 1980-1984 Weizman turned to business.

Related Topics:
1980 - Moshe Dayan - 1984

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In 1984 Weizman established a new party called Yachad, which won 3 seats in the 11th Assembly of the Knesset. Weizman and Yachad joined a national unity government in which Shimon Peres and Itzhak Shamir served as prime ministers in rotation. In October, 1986, Weizman's Yachad joined the Israeli Labor Party after Mapam and Yossi Sarid left it.

Related Topics:
1984 - Knesset - Shimon Peres - Itzhak Shamir - October - 1986 - Israeli Labor Party - Mapam - Yossi Sarid

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