BEILIN, JOSEPH (YOSSI)

(1948- )

Born inPetah Tikva, he earned a Ph.D. in political science atTel Aviv University. While working as a reporter forDavar, he met and impressedShimon Peres, who hired him to beIsrael Labor Partyspokesman. As deputy foreign minister, he was involved in the secret Israeli talks in Oslo withPalestinianofficials in the spring and summer of 1993, which culminated in the Israel-Palestine Liberation OrganizationDeclaration of Principles.In 1995, he conducted a series of secret talks with Palestinian officialMahmoud Abbas(Abu Mazen) on the framework for a permanent Israeli-Palestinian settlement. He sought the leadership of the Labor Party in 1997 but was defeated by formerIsraeli Defense Forceschief of staffEhud Barak. On 17 May 1999, Beilin was re-elected to the 15th Knesset on the Labor-One Israellist. He was appointed justice minister in the governing coalition headed by Barak; from August 2000 until March 2001, he also held thereligiousaffairs portfolio. On 31 March 2004, Beilin was elected leader ofYahad-Social Democratic Israel, a new left-wingZionist political partyformed out of the reconstitutedMeretzfaction. Under his leadership, the party won only five seats in the March 2006Knesset election.

In December 2003, he headed the Israeli contingent of private notables that, with their Palestinian counterparts headed by formerPalestinian Authorityminister Yasser Abed Rabbo, published the "Geneva Initiative" formula for a permanent Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. In December 2007, Beilin announced that he would not contest reelection as Yahad party leader. Beilin is the author of several books, includingTouching Peace:From the Oslo Accords to a Final Agreement,His Brother's Keeper, andManual for a Wounded Dove.