Who was Menachem Begin?

Menachem Begin (1913–1992) is remembered as a key figure from Israel, known for their role: Prime Minister of Israel.

Why is Menachem Begin important?

Menachem Begin stands out in history for a specific reason: Led the Irgun, a Zionist militant group, during the final years of the British Mandate. Their story helps place major events, ideas, and cultural change in a wider historical context.

Key achievements

• Led the Irgun, a Zionist militant group, during the final years of the British Mandate.
• Founded the Herut political party and later the Likud party.
• Became Prime Minister of Israel in 1977.
• Signed the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty and shared the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize with Anwar Sadat.

A fast fact

Begin led the Irgun, a Zionist paramilitary organization, during the final years of British rule over Palestine, and decades later, as prime minister, shared the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat for negotiating Israel's first peace treaty with an Arab nation.

Legacy

Begin's peace treaty with Egypt remains a landmark achievement in Middle Eastern diplomacy, even as his earlier role leading an armed underground movement remains part of his complex historical legacy.

israelmodern erapresidentsmiddle eastpeace makers