Ehud Barak
Ehud Barak is an Israeli politician and former military officer who served as Prime Minister of Israel from 1999 to 2001.
Ehud Barak is an Israeli politician and former military officer who served as Prime Minister of Israel from 1999 to 2001. Before entering politics, he rose through the Israel Defense Forces to become Chief of Staff, and later held several cabinet posts including foreign minister and defense minister.
Early life and military career
Ehud Barak was born in 1942 in Mishmar HaSharon, Mandatory Palestine, and entered the Israeli army in 1959. He became the Israel Defense Forces' 14th chief of staff in 1991, described as the youngest person to hold that post.
Political rise
Barak entered national politics in the 1990s and became foreign minister in 1995 after the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin. He was elected leader of the Labor Party in 1997.
Prime ministership
Barak served as Prime Minister of Israel from 1999 to 2001. His government ordered the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon in 2000, and his tenure focused heavily on peace negotiations.
Later public life
After leaving the premiership, Barak remained active in politics and government, including service as defense minister from 2007 to 2013. He later left the Labor Party and helped form a new political faction in 2011.
Key facts
- Barak was born in 1942 in Mishmar HaSharon and was originally named Ehud Brog.
- He became the Israel Defense Forces' 14th chief of staff in 1991, the youngest person to hold that post.
- He served as Israel's prime minister from 1999 to 2001.
- After Yitzhak Rabin's assassination, Barak became foreign minister in 1995 and later led the Labor Party from 1997.
- His government ordered the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon in 2000.
- He later returned to senior government roles, including defense minister from 2007 to 2013.
Ehud Barak is relevant to Canadian readers as a major figure in modern Israeli politics and Middle East diplomacy, issues that have been followed closely in Canadian foreign policy and news coverage.
Frequently asked questions
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References
- Government of Israel — https://www.gov.il/apps/elections/elections-knesset-15/heb/pm/ebio_pm_0.htmlSupports: Birth year, birthplace, and description as a decorated Israeli general and politician.
- Encyclopedia.com — https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/history/israeli-history-biographies/ehud-barakSupports: Military career, chief of staff role, foreign minister role, Labor Party leadership, and prime ministership.
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ehud_BarakSupports: Prime ministership dates and general career overview.
- Encyclopedia.com — https://www.encyclopedia.com/politics/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/barak-ehud-1942Supports: Israeli military and political figure; prime minister of Israel (1999–2001).
- EBSCO Research Starters — https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/politics-and-government/ehud-barakSupports: Labor Party leadership, premiership, peace initiatives, and later defense ministry role.
- Jewish Miami — https://jewishmiami.org/news/extra/about_our_speaker_ehud_barak/Supports: Prime ministership, southern Lebanon withdrawal, and peace-process focus.