Ben Zvi, Izhak (1884–1963)

Israeli politician, president 1952–63. He was born in Poltava, Russia, and became active in the Zionist movement in Ukraine. In 1907 he went to Palestine but was deported in 1915 with David Ben-Gurion. They served in the Jewish Legion under Field Marshal Allenby, who commanded the British forces in the Middle East. In 1952 he succeeded Chaim Weizmann as the second president of the newly formed state.