MK Benny Begin is stepping down from politics. Begin informed the chairman of the New Hope party, Justice Minister Gideon Sa'ar, that, due to the fact that he will soon turn 80, he has decided that at this age he would not continue to serve in the next Knesset.
Minister Sa'ar thanked Begin for agreeing to his request, on the eve of the previous elections, to join New Hope, as well as for his dedicated and professional work in the Knesset and its committees.
Begin announced that he will remain a member of New Hope and that he will take part in the election campaign as part of "Blue and White-New Hope" united slate. Minister Sa'ar thanked him for his decision.
Prime Minister Yair Lapid wrote on Twitter following Begin's announcement: "Benny, the Israeli Knesset today is losing a first-class public envoy, moral, hard-working and one who maintains a respectful and unifying discourse even with those who disagree with him. I am sure that you will continue to serve the public and contribute to Israeli society off the political field as well. Good luck, my dear friend."
Dr. Benny Begin, the son of the late Prime Minister Menachem Begin, for many years represented the Likud Party as part of which he was elected to the 12th Knesset in 1988. Over the years he served as Minister of Science, Minister without Portfolio and member of the political-security cabinet.
He is a geologist by profession and in the past even served as the head of the Geological Institute of Israel.