Ehud Barak (Hebrew: אהוד ברק, Arabic: إيهود باراك, Ihood Barak; born Ehud Brog; 12 February 1942) is an Israeli politician who served as Prime Minister from 1999 to 2001. He was leader of the Labor Party until January 2011 and holds the posts of Minister of Defense and Deputy Prime Minister in Binyamin Netanyahu's government. On November 26, 2012, Barak announce he will resign as Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister when a new government is formed after 2013 elections.
He is a graduate in physics, mathematics, and economics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Stanford University. He served as an officer in the Israel Defense Forces. Following a highly decorated career, he was appointed Chief of General Staff in 1991, serving until 1995. On 26 Nov 2012 he announced that he will retire from politics after the next election in January 2013.
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