Menachem Begin

Menachem Begin (August 16, 1913 - March 9, 1992) -- leader of Jewish resistance group Etzel?, considered by many to be terrorists. After the founding of the state of Israel, he founded the Herut? political party (later on called the Likud?). He became the 6th Prime Minister of Israel in May 1977. Negotiated [Camp David Accords]? with Egpytian President [Muhammad Anwar al-Sadat]?. For this, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1978.

In 1982, in a widely criticized move, Begin's government invaded Lebanon because of the constant attacks over Israel's northern border. This began the [Israeli-Lebanese war]?, which lasted until 1985 (when Israel retreated to a narrow strip of land in Northern Lebanon known as the [Security Zone]?). Although Israel retreated from that land too in 2000, the Lebanese organization Hizballah, whom both the United States and Israel consider terrorist, declared itself still in a state of war against Israel, launches attacks on Israel and holds Israeli citizens, some of whom are civilians.

Begin himself retired in August 1983, deeply disappointed and depressed by the war, his spouse's death and his own illness. He died in Jerusalem in 1992.

Links: [The Center for Begin's legacy (in Hebrew)]