NE'EMAN, YUVAL

(1925-2006)

Prominent nuclear physicist and right-wing political activist. He is widely regarded as founder of Israel's space program and a major figure in Israel's nuclear programs. Born inTel Avivin 1925, he was educated at theTechnion-Israel Institute of Technology and held a Ph.D. from London University. He became a professor of physics and served as president ofTel Aviv University. He was the founder and chairman of the right-wingTehiyaMovement from its inception in 1979. He served as minister ofscienceand development from 1982 to 1984. He was the recipient of numerous awards and prizes in science. Ne'eman became minister of science and development in the government established in June 1990. Tehiya subsequently quit the government to protest Israel's participation in theMadrid Middle East Peace Conference. It failed to win any seats in the 13th Knesset (1992), and Ne'eman retired from party politics. He died in Tel Aviv on 26 April 2006.