Ne'eman, Yuval (1925–)

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NE'EMAN, YUVAL (1925–)

Israeli scientist and military and political leader. Born in Mandatory Palestine, Yuval Ne'eman graduated as an engineer from the Technicion Institute in Haifa. He was a member of Haganah, the Jewish paramilitary organization, and participated in the 1948 Arab-Israel War, remaining in the Israel Defense Force (IDF) until 1961. As head of the IDF strategic planning department from 1954 to 1955, Ne'eman created the Lavie File, which dramatically changed Israel's security policy from defensive to offensive. From 1958 to 1960 Ne'eman served as Israeli military attaché in London, where he resumed his studies in nuclear physics. He later pursued research in nuclear physics in the United States, gaining international recognition for his work. He taught at Tel Aviv University in the 1970s, serving as university president from 1971 to 1975. Ne'eman entered politics as one of the founders of ha-Tehiya, a right-wing party. He served in the Knesset from 1981 to 1990 and was minister of science and technology from 1982 to 1984, then minister of energy and infrastructure as well as science and technology from 1990 until 1992. He retired from politics in 1992.

SEE ALSO Arab-Israel War (1948);Haganah;Israel Defense Force.