Born in Belarus, Begin joined the Revisionist Betar movement and escaped Nazis and Soviets to reach Palestine. He led the Irgun, then spent three decades in the political opposition, including arguing against German reparations. In 1977 he was elected prime minister at the head of Likud. He negotiated the 1978 Camp David Accords and signed the 1979 peace treaty with Egypt. He invaded Lebanon in 1982 and insisted on Israeli control of the West Bank.
Photo: Ya’acov Sa’ar, Israeli Government Press Office