Yisrael Barzilai

Israel Barzilai

Yisrael Barzilai (Hebrew: ישראל ברזילי) was an Israeli politician and diplomat. He was born on 1 October 1913 in Minsk, which was then part of the Russian Empire and is now the capital of Belarus. Barzilai was a member of the Knesset and served in various ministerial roles throughout his political career.

Early Life and Education

Barzilai was born Yisrael Eisenberg in Minsk. He immigrated to Mandatory Palestine in 1934, where he became involved in the Labor Zionist movement. He was a member of the Haganah, the Jewish paramilitary organization, and later joined the Mapai party, which was led by David Ben-Gurion.

Political Career

Barzilai was first elected to the Knesset in 1951 as a member of the Mapam party. He later joined the Ahdut HaAvoda party and then the Alignment, a political alliance of the Labor Party and Mapam. Throughout his career, Barzilai held several ministerial positions, including:

• Minister of Health (1966-1969)
• Minister of Postal Services (1969-1970)

As Minister of Health, Barzilai was instrumental in the development of Israel's healthcare system. He worked to improve medical services and expand healthcare infrastructure across the country.

Diplomatic Career

In addition to his political roles, Barzilai also served as an Israeli diplomat. He was appointed as the Israeli ambassador to Poland in 1954, where he worked to strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

Legacy

Yisrael Barzilai passed away on 12 June 1970. In recognition of his contributions to the state of Israel, the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon was named in his honor. The medical center continues to serve as a major healthcare facility in southern Israel.

See Also

• List of Knesset members
• Healthcare in Israel
• Labor Zionism
• Mapai
• Haganah

External Links

Yisrael Barzilai at Find a Grave