Menachem
Begin was born in Brest-Litovsk, Poland on 16 August 1913,
son of Zeev-Dov and Hassia Begin. He was educated at the Mizrachi
Hebrew School and the Polish Gymnasium (High School). In 1931, he
entered Warsaw University and took his law degree in 1935.
Until the age of 13 he belonged to the Hashomer Hatza'ir scout
movement, and at the age of 16 joined Betar (Brit Trumpeldor),
the nationalist youth movement associated with the Zionist
Revisionist Movement. In 1932 he became head of the Organization
Department of Betar for Poland travelling on its behalf
throughout the country, and contributing many articles to the
revisionist press. He was sent to Czechoslovakia to head the
movement there.
In 1937 he returned to Poland, and for a time was imprisoned for
leading a demonstration, in front of the British Legation in
Warsaw, protesting against British policy in Palestine. He
organized groups of Betar members who went to Palestine as
illegal immigrants, and in 1939 became the head of the movement
in Poland. On the outbreak of World War II, he was arrested by
the Russian authorities and in 1940-41 was confined in
concentration camps in Siberia and elsewhere, but was released
under the terms of the Stalin-Sikorski agreement.
On his release he joined the Polish army and was transferred to
the Middle East. After demobilization, in 1943, he assumed
command of the Irgun Zvati Leumi (National Military
Organization), known by the initials of its Hebrew name as
"Etzel". In this capacity he directed Etzel's
operations against the British, and the Palestine Government
offered a reward of ? 10,000 for information leading to his
arrest, but he evaded capture by living in disguise in Tel Aviv.
In 1947, he met in secret with several members of the United
Nations Special Committee on Palestine as well as the foreign
press, to explain the outlook of his movement.
After the establishment of the State of Israel, he founded the
Herut Movement, together with his colleagues, and headed the
party's list of candidates for the Knesset. He has been a member
of the Knesset since the first elections.
On 1 June 1967, Mr. Begin joined the Government of National Unity
in which he served as Minister without Portfolio until 4 August
1970.
On June 20, 1977, Mr. Menachem Begin, head of the Likud party -
after having won the Knesset elections (17 May 1977) - presented
the new Government to the Knesset and became Prime Minister of
Israel.
His publications include "White Nights" (describing his
wartime experience in Europe), "The Revolt", which has
been translated into several languages, and numerous articles.
He is married to Aliza (nee Arnold), and has a son and two
daughters.
From Les Prix Nobel 1978.
Menachem Begin died in 1992.