Israel’s seventh prime minister, minister of foreign affairs, and speaker of the Knesset. Born in Ruzinoy, Poland, Shamir immigrated to Palestine in 1935 and studied at the Hebrew University. He served in the Irgun Z’vai L’umi and the Stern Group, was arrested twice by the British but escaped. From 1955 to 1965, he served in the Mossad, Israel’s intelligence service, and was active on behalf of Soviet Jewry. In 1970, Shamir joined the Herut movement and chaired its Executive Committee in 1975 and 1977. He has served on the committees for defense, foreign affairs, and state control. In 1980-1981 he was Foreign Minister and became Prime Minister in 1983, following Menachem Begin‘s resignation. He served until 1984, then again from 1990 to 1992, when Labor came back to power under Rabin.