Begin, Ze'ev Benjamin (Benny) (1943–)

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BEGIN, ZE'EV BENJAMIN (Benny) (1943–)

Israeli politician. The son of the late prime minister Menachem Begin, Benjamin "Benny" Begin was born in Jerusalem in 1943. He was educated at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and then at Colorado State University, where he received a doctoral degree in geology. He served in the Armored Corps from 1960 to 1963 and later volunteered for additional military service (1975–1976). Begin worked as a geologist for the Geological Survey of Israel (1965–1988), heading the environmental and mapping divisions. In 1989 he was appointed head of the research institute of the College of Judea and Samaria. Begin was a member of the Knesset from 1988 to 1999. A member of the Likud Party, he served on the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, for which he chaired a subcommittee on national defense. He served briefly (June 1996–January 1997) as minister of science.

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