Born in Lithuania in 1925, Arens is raised in the US until he makes Aliyah in 1948, after receiving degrees in engineering from MIT and the California Institute of Technology. Elected to the Knesset in 1974, he serves as Minister of Defense and Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Likud led governments in the 1980s. He serves as Israel’s ambassador to the US during Israel’s invasion of Lebanon, bringing to Washington a 31 year old protégé, Benjamin Netanyahu. He succeeds Ariel Sharon as Defense Minister in 1983. His sharp and pointed tones find him at frequent odds with American diplomats. Arens teaches engineering at the Technion and serves as vice president for engineering at Israel Aircraft Industries. Arens dies January 7, 2019 at his home in Savyon, Israel.
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