Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Civic Brief • Prime Minister

Ehud Barak

Ehud Barak is an Israeli politician and former military officer who served as Prime Minister of Israel from 1999 to 2001.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Ehud Barak is an Israeli politician and former military officer who served as Prime Minister of Israel from 1999 to 2001. He is a significant figure in modern Middle East diplomacy, with a background as the youngest-ever IDF chief of staff.

What it is

Ehud Barak (born Ehud Brog, 1942) is a former Israeli prime minister, defense minister, and foreign minister. Before politics, he rose through the Israel Defense Forces to become the 14th chief of staff in 1991, the youngest person to hold that post.

Why it matters

For Canadian readers, Barak's career touches on Middle East peace processes and security issues that have shaped Canadian foreign policy. His 2000 withdrawal from southern Lebanon and subsequent defense roles are key moments in a region closely watched by Canada.

Key details

Barak led the Labor Party from 1997, served as prime minister during the 2000 Lebanon withdrawal, and later returned as defense minister (2007–2013). After leaving the Labor Party, he helped form a new political faction in 2011.

In short

  • Born in 1942 as Ehud Brog; became IDF's youngest chief of staff in 1991.
  • Served as Israel's prime minister from 1999 to 2001, overseeing the Lebanon withdrawal.
  • Later held senior roles including foreign minister (1995) and defense minister (2007–2013).
  • Relevant to Canadian readers through Middle East diplomacy and foreign policy ties.
Canadian angle

Ehud Barak is relevant to Canadian readers as a major figure in modern Israeli politics and Middle East diplomacy, issues that have been followed closely in Canadian foreign policy and news coverage.

Quick questions

Who is Ehud Barak?
Ehud Barak is an Israeli politician and former military officer who served as Prime Minister of Israel from 1999 to 2001.
What was Ehud Barak's military role?
He was the 14th chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces, serving from 1991 to 1995.
What major event is associated with his time as prime minister?
His government ordered the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000, and his premiership also focused heavily on peace negotiations.

Sources

  1. Government of Israel — https://www.gov.il/apps/elections/elections-knesset-15/heb/pm/ebio_pm_0.html
    Supports: Birth year, birthplace, and description as a decorated Israeli general and politician.
  2. Encyclopedia.com — https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/history/israeli-history-biographies/ehud-barak
    Supports: Military career, chief of staff role, foreign minister role, Labor Party leadership, and prime ministership.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ehud_Barak
    Supports: Prime ministership dates and general career overview.
  4. Encyclopedia.com — https://www.encyclopedia.com/politics/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/barak-ehud-1942
    Supports: Israeli military and political figure; prime minister of Israel (1999–2001).
  5. EBSCO Research Starters — https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/politics-and-government/ehud-barak
    Supports: Labor Party leadership, premiership, peace initiatives, and later defense ministry role.
  6. Jewish Miami — https://jewishmiami.org/news/extra/about_our_speaker_ehud_barak/
    Supports: Prime ministership, southern Lebanon withdrawal, and peace-process focus.