Arens, Moshe (1925– )

Israeli politician and engineer, deputy leader of the Likud Party from 1992. He was elected to the Knesset (Israeli parliament) in 1974. In 1982 he was appointed ambassador to the USA and in 1986 he was given responsibility for Israeli–Arab affairs. Although instinctively right-wing in his views, he was also a pragmatist and, although initially opposed to dealings with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), accepted the need for compromise.

Born in Poland, he was brought to the USA as a child and completed his education there, qualifying as an aeronautical engineer. In 1948 he emigrated to Israel and became active in an underground movement opposed to British rule in Palestine. At the same time he taught in Haifa and from 1962 led a team developing military aircraft. For this work he was awarded the Israeli Defence Prize in 1971. He then directed his energies to politics.