Ephraim Sneh

(1944 - )

Ephraim Sneh is an Israeli politician, former Cabinet minister and retired Brigadier General in the Israel Defense Forces.

Sneh (born September 19, 1944) was born and raised in Tel Aviv. He began his military service in the Nahal Infantry Brigade from 1962 to 1964. Following his graduation from the Tel Aviv Medical school, Sneh returned to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as medical officer of the Paratrooper Corps, where he served throughout the The Yom Kippur War. As a medical officer, he participated in many combat missions, including the Entebbe rescue operation of 1976, where he commanded the medical team.

From 1978 to 1980 Sneh served as Commander of the elite 669 search and rescue unit. In 1981, he was appointed Commander of Israel's Security Zone in Southern Lebanon. From 1985-87, Sneh served as Head of the Civil Administration in the West Bank.

Following his retirement from the IDF in 1987 with the rank of Brigadier-General, Sneh took up the post of Director of the Golda Meir Association for the education and promotion of democratic values.

In January 1988, Sneh became actively involved in the Labor Party and in 1992 he was elected to the Knesset on the Labor ticket. He served with Labor in the Knesset through 1999 when he switched over to the One Israel Party. Sneh moved back to Labor before the 2001 elections and served through 2008.

From 1994 through 1996, Sneh served as Minister of Health, from 1999 to 2001 as Deputy Defense Minister and in 2001 he was appointed Minister of Transporation, a position he held through 2002.

Sneh is maried with two children and lives in Herziliyah.

Sources: Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Wikipedia