Yisrael Barzilai

Yisrael Barzilai (Hebrew: ישראל ברזילי‎, born Yisrael Eisenberg on 1 October 1913, died 12 June 1970) was an Israeli politician who served as a government minister during the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s.

Yisrael Barzilai
Date of birth1 October 1913
Place of birthNieszawa, Russian Empire
Year of aliyah1934
Date of death12 June 1970
Knessets3, 4, 5
Faction represented in Knesset
1955–1965Mapam
Ministerial roles
1955–1961Minister of Health
1958–1959Minister of Postal Services
1966–1969Minister of Health
1969–1970Minister without Portfolio

Life and career

Born in Nieszawa in the Russian Empire (today in Poland), Barzilai joined Hashomer Hatzair at the age of 11. In 1932 he moved to Paris to study, before making aliyah to Mandate Palestine in 1934. In Palestine he joined the HeHalutz movement, and in 1938 was elected head of the independent settlements department of Kibbutz Artzi. In 1939 he was one of the founders of kibbutz Negba.

In 1947 he became secretary of the World Union of Mapam. Between 1948 and 1951 he worked as the first Israeli envoy in Poland. After returning to Israel, he served as political secretary of Mapam between 1953 and 1955.[1]

He was first elected to the Knesset on Mapam's list in 1955, and was appointed Minister of Health in David Ben-Gurion's government. In November 1958 he also became Minister of Postal Services after the National Religious Party withdrew from the government. After the 1959 elections he continued as Minister of Health.

Although he was re-elected in 1961, Mapam were excluded from the government and Barzilai lost his cabinet position. However, he did serve as Deputy Speaker of the Knesset. In the 1965 elections he lost his seat, but was re-appointed Minister of Health by Levi Eshkol. Following the 1969 elections (in which he also failed to win a seat) he was appointed Minister without Portfolio, serving until his death in June 1970. Following his death, the hospital in Ashkelon (whose cornerstone he had laid in 1961) was renamed Barzilai Medical Center in his honour.

References
  1. Israel Barzilai: Public Activities Knesset website
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