Barak, Ehud

Barak, Ehud

Former Labour PM & army chief of staff. Born 1942 in kibbutz Mishmar Hasharon as Ehud Brog, son of East European immigrants. He began his military service in 1959. Became head of IDF “intelligence”, reconnaissance gp commander in 1967 war, battalion commander in South Sinai in 1973 war. Deputy-Commander on the 1982 invasion of Lebanon. Took leading roles in the Beirut raid of 1973 and the 1988 raid on Tunis. Deputy chief-of-staff (from May87), chief-of-staff & Lt. Gen. (from Apr91). Israelael most decorated soldier, and its youngest chief-of-staff. Oversaw redeployment from Gaza/Jericho, took part in negotiations with Jordam & contacts with Syria (from 1994). Became Interior Minister (Jul-Nov95) under Rabin & Finance Minister (Nov95-Jun96) under Peres. An Member of Knesset from 1996, immediately became chair of Labour Party Made attempts to win Sephardi support by apologizing for past behaviour of Labour Ashkenazi elite. He won the May99 elections, and became Prime Minister. Lost elections of Feb01, and vacillated over taking a role in the Sharon government, eventually, he didn’t and resigned chair of party and quit from politics.