Rehavam (Ghandi) Zeevi, born in 1926, Jerusalem.

In the framework of his last position, Rehavam Zeevi served as Israel’s Minister of Tourism.  Zeevi was a Member of Knesset representing the Ihud Leumi – Israel Beitenu Party.

Zeevi had a rich military and public record.  He joined the Palmach in 1944 and continued his service in the IDF until 1974, when he was released from the army with the rank of Major General.  He fulfilled several commanding positions: Yiftah Brigade Intelligence Officer in the War of Independence, Head of the Central Command, Head of the General Staff Operations Branch and Assistant to the Chief of Staff during the Yom Kippur War.  He graduated from the Staff and Command College in the United States.

In the years 1974-1977, he served as an Adviser to the Prime Minister (Yitzchak Rabin z”l) on Intelligence and Terror Combat, and in the years 1981-1991 he served as Chairman of the Land of Israel Museum in Tel Aviv.

In 1988, Zeevi established the Moledet [homeland] Party and was initially elected chairman of that party which provided an ideological basis for the principle of transfer.  In the 12th Knesset, in 1991, he was elected Minister without Portfolio in the Government of Yitzchak Shamir.  In the 13th Knesset he served as member of the House Committee and the State Control Committee.

In the 14th Knesset he again served on the House Committee and the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.  Before the elections for the 15th Knesset, Moledet united with the Herut and Tkuma parties, and thus the united right-wing party –Ihud Leumi – was formed.  In February 2000, Ihud Leumi combined in the Knesset with the Israeli Beitenu faction.

In March 2001, upon the establishment of the National Unity Government headed by Ariel Sharon, Zeevi was appointed Minister of Tourism, which constituted his last political office.

Rehavam Zeevi, 75, left behind a wife, Yael, five children and 10 grandchildren.