Yossi Beilin
Encyclopedia
Dr. Yosef "Yossi" Beilin ' onMouseout='HidePop("64180")' href="/topics/Petah_Tikva">Petah Tikva
on 12 June 1948) is a left-wing Israel
i politician and a former Knesset
member, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister
and Justice Minister
, representing both the Labor Party and Meretz-Yachad
, of which he served as chairman between 2003 and 2006. He is best known for his involvement with the Oslo accords
, the Geneva Initiative
and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process in general. His signed expositions on Israeli political and social current events are frequently carried in the left-of-centre daily newspaper Haaretz
and the right-of-centre daily newspaper Israel HaYom
.
until 1986 and a Director General of the Foreign Ministry until 1986-1988. In 1988 he was elected to the Knesset in which he was to serve until 1999. During this period he was Deputy Finance Minister (1988–1990) and Deputy Foreign Minister (1992–1995) under Shimon Peres
. His long time involvement with Shimon Peres
earned him the derogatory nickname "Peres' poodle" in the early 1990s, a term coined by Peres' political rival, Yitzhak Rabin
.
Following that he served in two minor ministerial positions, Minister of Economy and Planning (1995) and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister (1996). After Labour's loss of the election in 1996 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the party leadership in a contest won by Ehud Barak
. When Barak formed a government in 1999 Beilin served as the Minister of Justice until the party lost power in 2001.
In 2003, increasingly tainted by his leftist image, he was given an unrealistically low position on the Labour party slate which offered him little chance for election as a Labour Knesset member. Together with Yael Dayan
they promptly quit Labour and joined Meretz, where they were received enthusiastically, but without realistic positions either. In the primaries held in Meretz after the general elections, Beilin was elected chairman of the party. As chairman, Beilin's popularity remained low, with the party winning only 5 Knesset seats in the 2006 elections. Eventually, in late 2007 Beilin withdrew his candidacy for the party leadership, after it became clear that Haim Oron
was leading in the polls. Oron went on to win the internal elections held on 18 March 2008 to become Meretz's new chairman.
Beilin's association with the peace process is the most notable element in his career. Backed by Shimon Peres, he initiated secret negotiations in 1992 which led to the Oslo accords
in 1993. Together with Mahmoud Abbas
, another architect of the Oslo accords, he signed in 1995 the Beilin-Abu Mazen agreement, a 'non paper' of guidelines for a permanent solution to the conflict. During 1992-1995 he headed the Israeli delegation to the Multilateral peace process working groups. In 2001 he participated in the Israeli-Palestinian Taba talks and, the initiative that he is currently most famed for, signed the Geneva Accords
with Yasser Abd Rabbo
.
On 28 October 2008 he announced that he will not be seeking a spot on his party's Knesset roster in the upcoming elections
. His aides said he "will remain a public figure and will keep pursuing his political initiatives, most of all the Geneva Initiative". On 4 November he was replaced by Tzvia Greenfield, who became the first Haredi woman sworn as an MK.
Beilin holds a soft capitalist agenda, which did not stop him from joining forces with the mainly socialist Meretz. He rarely speaks publicly on social issues, but instead focuses his efforts on promoting negotiations with the Palestinians. In fact, his victory over Meretz's own Ran Cohen
was construed as a vote of Meretz electorate of giving precedence to the conflict over socioeconomic issues.
, Beilin is married with two children, and currently lives in Tel Aviv
.
In response to Shas's proposed legislation that would prohibit the practice of cremation in the State of Israel after the hidden location of Israel's first crematorium was uncovered and soon after set ablaze, Beilin announced he had instructed in his will that his body be cremated after he died.
In November 2009 he was decorated with the Légion d'honneur
by the French ambassador to Israel.
Petah Tikva
Petah Tikva known as Em HaMoshavot , is a city in the Center District of Israel, east of Tel Aviv.According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, at the end of 2009, the city's population stood at 209,600. The population density is approximately...
on 12 June 1948) is a left-wing Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i politician and a former Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
member, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister
Foreign Affairs Minister of Israel
The Foreign Affairs Minister of Israel is the political head of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The position is one of the most important in the Israeli cabinet after Prime Minister and Defense Minister...
and Justice Minister
Justice Minister of Israel
The Justice Minister of Israel is the political head of the Israeli Ministry of Justice and a position in the Israeli cabinet. The current minister is Ya'akov Ne'eman, an independent who is not a member of the Knesset....
, representing both the Labor Party and Meretz-Yachad
Meretz-Yachad
New Movement-Meretz , previously known as Meretz, then Yachad, and then Meretz-Yachad is a left-wing, Zionist, social democratic political party in Israel....
, of which he served as chairman between 2003 and 2006. He is best known for his involvement with the Oslo accords
Oslo Accords
The Oslo Accords, officially called the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements or Declaration of Principles , was an attempt to resolve the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict...
, the Geneva Initiative
Geneva Accord
The Geneva Initiative, also known as the Geneva Accord, is a model permanent status agreement to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on previous official negotiations, international resolutions, the Quartet Roadmap, the Clinton Parameters, and the Arab Peace Initiative...
and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process in general. His signed expositions on Israeli political and social current events are frequently carried in the left-of-centre daily newspaper Haaretz
Haaretz
Haaretz is Israel's oldest daily newspaper. It was founded in 1918 and is now published in both Hebrew and English in Berliner format. The English edition is published and sold together with the International Herald Tribune. Both Hebrew and English editions can be read on the Internet...
and the right-of-centre daily newspaper Israel HaYom
Israel HaYom
Israel HaYom is an Israeli national Hebrew-language free daily newspaper first published on July 30, 2007 and currently published in Tabloid format. The name is a variation of the popular USA Today, though there is no relation between the two publications...
.
Biography
The majority of Beilin's political career, from 1977 until 2003 is associated with the Labour party. He served as its spokesman from 1977 until 1984, at which point his career in the public service began. He was a Cabinet SecretaryCabinet Secretary
A Cabinet Secretary is almost always a senior official who provides services and advice to a Cabinet of Ministers. In many countries, the position can have considerably wider functions and powers, including general responsibility for the entire civil service...
until 1986 and a Director General of the Foreign Ministry until 1986-1988. In 1988 he was elected to the Knesset in which he was to serve until 1999. During this period he was Deputy Finance Minister (1988–1990) and Deputy Foreign Minister (1992–1995) under Shimon Peres
Shimon Peres
GCMG is the ninth President of the State of Israel. Peres served twice as the eighth Prime Minister of Israel and once as Interim Prime Minister, and has been a member of 12 cabinets in a political career spanning over 66 years...
. His long time involvement with Shimon Peres
Shimon Peres
GCMG is the ninth President of the State of Israel. Peres served twice as the eighth Prime Minister of Israel and once as Interim Prime Minister, and has been a member of 12 cabinets in a political career spanning over 66 years...
earned him the derogatory nickname "Peres' poodle" in the early 1990s, a term coined by Peres' political rival, Yitzhak Rabin
Yitzhak Rabin
' was an Israeli politician, statesman and general. He was the fifth Prime Minister of Israel, serving two terms in office, 1974–77 and 1992 until his assassination in 1995....
.
Following that he served in two minor ministerial positions, Minister of Economy and Planning (1995) and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister (1996). After Labour's loss of the election in 1996 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the party leadership in a contest won by Ehud Barak
Ehud Barak
Ehud Barak is an Israeli politician who served as Prime Minister from 1999 until 2001. He was leader of the Labor Party until January 2011 and holds the posts of Minister of Defense and Deputy Prime Minister in Binyamin Netanyahu's government....
. When Barak formed a government in 1999 Beilin served as the Minister of Justice until the party lost power in 2001.
In 2003, increasingly tainted by his leftist image, he was given an unrealistically low position on the Labour party slate which offered him little chance for election as a Labour Knesset member. Together with Yael Dayan
Yael Dayan
Yaël Dayan is an Israeli politician and author. She served as a member of the Knesset between 1992 and 2003, and is currently the chair of Tel Aviv city council. She is the daughter of Moshe Dayan and sister of Assi Dayan.-Biography:...
they promptly quit Labour and joined Meretz, where they were received enthusiastically, but without realistic positions either. In the primaries held in Meretz after the general elections, Beilin was elected chairman of the party. As chairman, Beilin's popularity remained low, with the party winning only 5 Knesset seats in the 2006 elections. Eventually, in late 2007 Beilin withdrew his candidacy for the party leadership, after it became clear that Haim Oron
Haim Oron
Haim "Jumas" Oron is an Israeli politician and former Minister of Agriculture. He is currently head of the political party New Movement-Meretz, for whom he served as a member of the Knesset.-Biography:...
was leading in the polls. Oron went on to win the internal elections held on 18 March 2008 to become Meretz's new chairman.
Beilin's association with the peace process is the most notable element in his career. Backed by Shimon Peres, he initiated secret negotiations in 1992 which led to the Oslo accords
Oslo Accords
The Oslo Accords, officially called the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements or Declaration of Principles , was an attempt to resolve the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict...
in 1993. Together with Mahmoud Abbas
Mahmoud Abbas
Mahmoud Abbas , also known by the kunya Abu Mazen , has been the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation since 11 November 2004 and became President of the Palestinian National Authority on 15 January 2005 on the Fatah ticket.Elected to serve until 9 January 2009, he unilaterally...
, another architect of the Oslo accords, he signed in 1995 the Beilin-Abu Mazen agreement, a 'non paper' of guidelines for a permanent solution to the conflict. During 1992-1995 he headed the Israeli delegation to the Multilateral peace process working groups. In 2001 he participated in the Israeli-Palestinian Taba talks and, the initiative that he is currently most famed for, signed the Geneva Accords
Geneva accords
The Geneva Accords, known formally as the agreements on the settlement of the situation relating to Afghanistan, were signed on 14 April 1988 between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with the United States and the Soviet Union serving as guarantors....
with Yasser Abd Rabbo
Yasser Abd Rabbo
Yasser Abd Rabbo is a Palestinian politician and a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization's Executive Committee. He holds an M.A...
.
On 28 October 2008 he announced that he will not be seeking a spot on his party's Knesset roster in the upcoming elections
Israeli legislative election, 2009
Elections for the 18th Knesset were held in Israel on 10 February 2009. These elections became necessary due to the resignation of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as leader of the Kadima party, and the failure of his successor, Tzipi Livni, to form a coalition government...
. His aides said he "will remain a public figure and will keep pursuing his political initiatives, most of all the Geneva Initiative". On 4 November he was replaced by Tzvia Greenfield, who became the first Haredi woman sworn as an MK.
Beilin holds a soft capitalist agenda, which did not stop him from joining forces with the mainly socialist Meretz. He rarely speaks publicly on social issues, but instead focuses his efforts on promoting negotiations with the Palestinians. In fact, his victory over Meretz's own Ran Cohen
Ran Cohen
Ran Cohen is an Israeli politician and former Knesset member for Meretz-Yachad. He is a resident of Mevaseret Zion and married with four children....
was construed as a vote of Meretz electorate of giving precedence to the conflict over socioeconomic issues.
Personal life
Born in Petah TikvaPetah Tikva
Petah Tikva known as Em HaMoshavot , is a city in the Center District of Israel, east of Tel Aviv.According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, at the end of 2009, the city's population stood at 209,600. The population density is approximately...
, Beilin is married with two children, and currently lives in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
.
In response to Shas's proposed legislation that would prohibit the practice of cremation in the State of Israel after the hidden location of Israel's first crematorium was uncovered and soon after set ablaze, Beilin announced he had instructed in his will that his body be cremated after he died.
In November 2009 he was decorated with the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
by the French ambassador to Israel.
External links
- Geneva Initiative official website
- Geneva Initiative official Israeli website
- Meretz-Yahad deserves your support By YOSSI BEILIN, The Jerusalem PostThe Jerusalem PostThe Jerusalem Post is an Israeli daily English-language broadsheet newspaper, founded on December 1, 1932 by Gershon Agron as The Palestine Post. The daily readership numbers do not approach those of the major Hebrew newspapers....
Dec 19, 2005