MERIDOR, DAN

Meridor, Dan: translation

(1947- )

Born inJerusalem, he is the son of formerIrguncommander andHerutmember of theKnesset,Yaacov Meridor, making the younger Meridor a "Likudprince." Having graduated from the faculty of law atHebrew University of Jerusalem, he served as government secretary from 1982 to 1984.First elected to theKnesseton the Likud list in 1984, he became minister of justice in the government established in December 1988 and retained that position in the government of June 1990. In July 1996, he agreed to join the governing coalition headed byBenjamin Netanyahuas finance minister. He resigned in June 1997 to protest the perceived lack of support from theprime ministerfor the package ofeconomicreforms that he sought to institute.

On 22 December 1998, Meridor quit the Likud in order to form his own centrist party that would contest election to the 15th Knesset; he also announced his candidacy for the position of prime minister. He subsequently joined with former Likud members of the KnessetRonnie MiloandYitzhak Mordechaiand formerIsrael Defense Forces(IDF) chief of staffAmnon Lipkin-Shahakto form the newCenter Partyto contest the 17 May 1999Knesset election. However, when the Center Party dissolved during the 15th Knesset, Meridor temporarily returned to the Likud Party but then took his leave of party politics. Meridor is now international chair of the Jerusalem Foundation. He headed a committee that in April 2006 presented a 250-page report to the IDF general staff and to Prime MinisterEhud Olmertrecommending a new national defense doctrine for Israel. Meridor took part in theWinograd Committeethat looked at Israel's actions in theSecond Lebanon War(2006).