Ehud Barak

Barak was Prime Minister of Israel from 1999 to 2001.
Most Decorated Soldier in Israel's History
The son of East European immigrants in Palestine, he was born Ehud Brog, later adopting the Hebrew name Barak [lightning]. Barak began his military Service in 1959, became a major general in 1982, and by 1991 had become the youngest army chief of staff in Israeli history. Known for his bravery, Barak led two successful commando raids, one that stormed a hijacked Belgian airliner (1972), the other that destroyed a terrorist cell in Beirut (1976). As army head, he was instrumental in building a more streamlined and technologically advanced force. He retired in 1994 and that year joined the Labor party. He was the most decorate soldier in Israeli history.