Former Minister of Defense and Labor Party chairman Binyamin Ben-Eliezer died today at age 80 in the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov Hospital). He left a wife and five children.
Ben-Eliezer immigrated to Israel from Iraq as a child, and was sent straight to a kibbutz. He served his country for over 60 years as a highly valued IDF combat soldier and officer. He fought in Israel's wars and was released with the rank of brigadier general.
Ben-Eliezer was active in public service for 30 more years: nine terms as an MK, a minister in various governments in a variety of positions, including Minister of Housing and Construction, Minister of Defense, Minister of National Infrastructure, Energy, and Water Resources, Minister of Communications, and Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Ben-Eliezer suffered from kidney problems in recent years. He suffered a slight stroke in July this year due to the dialysis treatments he was received, and was hospitalized for one day. Due to his medical condition, the Tel Aviv District Court ruled that he could not take an active part in the trial being conducted against him on charges of accepting a bribe. The trial was then canceled, but the case against him was not closed.
Ben-Eliezer was hospitalized on Friday in the intensive care unit of Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, after he was discovered to be suffering from a cardiac problem. His condition deteriorated, and it was decided to transfer him to Sourasky Medical Center.
Ben Eliezer was born in 1936 in the city of Basra with the name Fuad, which stuck with him as a nickname during his entire political career. In 1950, at age 14, he immigrated to Israel with his family. He was recruited into the IDF in 1954 into the Golani Brigade, and later studied in an officer's course for land forces. He served as a Shaked Reconnaissance officer in the Six-Day War, and subsequently rose higher in the chain of command.
In the Yom Kippur War, he served as deputy commander of the Hativ unit, and was then appointed a divisional commander in the Lebanon area. Ben-Eliezer was the first commander of the South Lebanon theater headquarters, and was responsible for opening the Good Fence and establishing the South Lebanon Army (SLA).
In 1978-1982, Ben-Eliezer was commander of the Judea and Samaria division with the rank of brigadier general. He was then demobilized, but was called to return to army service a year later by then-Minister of Defense Moshe Ahrens, and was appointed Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories.
In 1984, following his final release from army service, Ben-Eliezer entered politics as a member of the Yachad Party, which merged with the Labor Party following the elections. In 1992, he served as Minister of Construction and Housing in Yitzhak Rabin's government. He was appointed Minister of Communications in Ehud Barak's government in 1999, and also served as deputy prime minister.
Ben-Eliezer was appointed Minister of Defense in 2001 in Ariel Sharon's first government, and was later elected temporary Labor Party chairman, due to claims of forged ballots in the primaries. A year later, he lost the rerun to Amram Mitzna.
In Sharon's second government, Ben-Eliezer was appointed Minister of National Infrastructure, and continued in this position under Ehud Olmert as prime minister. In 2009, Ben-Eliezer was among the leading Labor Party advocates of joining Netanyahu's government, and was appointed Minister of Industry, Trade, and Employment. He resigned two years later when the Atzmaut Party, led by Barak, split off from the Labor Party.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today expressed his condolences and regret about Ben-Eliezer's death. He said, "Fuad served the state of Israel for decades as a combat soldier, commander, public figure, and senior government minister. I knew him, and appreciated his contribution and special image. In many talks with him, Fuad expressed his concern and commitment to the future of the country he loved so much. May his memory be blessed."
President Shimon Peres also eulogized Ben-Eliezer, saying, "The death of former Minister of Defense Binyamin (Fuad) Ben-Eliezer saddens me. I remember Fuad as a brave warrior and commander in the IDF, a warm human being, and a lover of mankind, who heart was planted deeply in the soil of the country and the fate of its people. I share the deep sorrow of his family and the many friends who accompanied him for decades."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 28, 2016
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