Yitzhak Shamir

Shamir, Yitzhak (1915– ), prime minister of Israel (1983–92), successor to Menachem Begin. Born in Poland, he went to Palestine in 1935, where he joined the underground military organization Irgun Zvai Leumi and later the more radical Stern Gang in combating British rule. From 1955 to 1965 he worked for the Israel intelligence agency. As foreign minister (1980–83), he was identified as a strong supporter of Begin's policies. In 1984 and 1988 his Likud Party formed coalition governments with the Labour Party.

See also: Israel.