Menachem Begin

Early Life and Influences

Menachem Begin was born on August 16th, 1913, in Brest-Litovsk, in what is now Belarus. Menachem grew up in a family deeply rooted in Jewish traditions. His family believed in Zionist ideology, and he was influenced by that. Zionists believed that Jews deserved their own land and fought for it.

Commitment to Zionism

Menachem joined a right-wing Zionist youth movement called Betar when he was 16. This was just the beginning of a lifelong commitment to the cause of a Jewish state. In 1935, Menachem moved to Mandatory Palestine, which later became Israel. He continued his involvement in Betar even there, advocating for a more aggressive approach to achieving Zionism’s goals. He believed that force was necessary to achieve these objectives.

Marriage and Family

Meanwhile, in 1939, Menachem Begin married Aliza Arnold. Together they shared the same goals of an independent Jewish nation. The couple had three children and remained devoted to each other throughout their lives. Menachem’s convictions were solidified with the outbreak of World War II, as he felt an urgent need for a Jewish state after witnessing the horrors of the Holocaust. At that time, the British were in control of Palestine, and Jewish immigration was restricted after the war.

Founding of the Irgun

This forced Menachem to take a radical step. In 1943, he co-founded the Irgun, a militant Zionist group engaged in armed resistance against the British. The Irgun carried out bombings and assassinations to achieve their goals, which many considered acts of terrorism; however, Menachem justified their actions.

Establishment of Israel

After protests and with the support of the UN, Israel was declared independent on May 14, 1948. Following the founding of the State of Israel, Menachem Begin became more involved in mainstream politics. He founded the Herut party, which later merged with other right-wing parties to form the Likud party. Menachem served as the leader of the Likud party and became known for his nationalist and conservative political views.

Prime Minister of Israel

In 1977, Menachem was elected as the Prime Minister of Israel. For decades, Israeli politics had been dominated by the left-wing Labor party. Menachem became Israel’s sixth Prime Minister, holding that position from 1977 to 1983. In 1978, he signed a peace treaty with Egypt’s President Anwar Sadat, which was believed to be a historic step towards peace. Menachem, along with Anwar Sadat, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1978.

Retirement and Legacy

Menachem Begin retired from politics in 1983 due to deteriorating health. He passed away in 1992 at the age of 78. Menachem was a passionate leader, a controversial figure, and ultimately, a man who played a pivotal role in shaping the course of Israeli history.