(Jerusalem Post) Alexander Zvielli - Yitzhak Shamir, a leader of the pre-state Lehi underground movement, who served as prime minister of Israel in 1983-84 and 1986-92, died Saturday at age 96. Even his political detractors credited him with being a public figure of iron integrity, rare modesty, fearless courage, a genuine family man and a true Israeli patriot. A former Mossad agent, Likud MK and Knesset Speaker, he was serving as foreign minister when parachuted into the prime minister's office in 1983 following the sudden resignation of Menachem Begin. Shamir become the first prime minister to negotiate directly with the Palestinians when pressured by the U.S. to attend the 1991 Madrid conference. During the Gulf war of 1992, Shamir refrained from retaliating against Iraq, which sent Scud missiles against Israel.
2012-07-02 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive