Posted on 09/29/16
| News Source: Fox News
JERUSALEM – Shimon Peres, who died Wednesday, was both a former president and prime minister, the only person in Israel to hold both jobs. Of Israel's 12 prime ministers, three are still living: current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; his predecessor, Ehud Olmert, who is in prison after a bribery conviction; and Ehud Barak, who appears to be plotting a comeback.
A look at some of its prime ministers:
DAVID BEN-GURION (1886-1973)
Israel's founding father and first prime minister served from Israel's creation in 1948 until 1963, with a two-year hiatus in 1954-55. Renowned for declaring Israel's independence and building its military might, he oversaw the development of Israel's nuclear program and agreed to a historic reparations deal with West Germany over the Nazi crimes in the Holocaust. A towering figure in Israeli history and mentor to Peres, Ben-Gurion is regarded as the guiding force behind a philosophy of maintaining a strong military while also pursuing peace with Arab neighbors.
GOLDA MEIR (1898-1978)
Israel's first and only female prime minister, she served between 1969 and 1974. Known as the "Iron Lady" of Israeli politics, she was born in Kiev, raised in Milwaukee and spoke in American-accented Hebrew. She oversaw a tumultuous time in office that included the emergence of hijackings by Palestinians and attacks on Israeli targets. Following the murder of 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Meir ordered the Mossad assassinations of Palestinian militants in Europe. She resigned after the 1973 Mideast War, when Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel. Although the Israeli military ultimately fended off the attacks, the nation suffered high casualties, tarnishing Meir's legacy for being caught off guard.
YITZHAK RABIN (1922-1995)
The first native-born Israeli to become prime minister, Rabin took office in 1974 after Meir's resignation. The highlight of his first term was ordering the daring rescue operation of Israeli hostages at Entebbe, Uganda, in 1976. The former military chief of staff resigned...read more at FOX NEWS