Hanegbi, Tzachi

(1957- )

   Born in Jerusalem and educated at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, he is the son of Geula Cohen, former member of the Knesset (MK) and founder and head of the right-wing Tehiya Party. He managed the Likud election (see KNESSET ELECTIONS) campaign in 1984 and served as adviser to the foreign minister (1984-86) and director of the prime minister's office (1986-88). He was a Likud MK beginning in 1988. Hanegbi served as minister of health from June to November 1996 and was named minister of justice in November 1996, a position that he held until July 1999. In 1997, he began serving as chairman of the Likud Party's central committee. Reelected to the 15th Knesset (1999) and 16th Knesset (2003), he served as minister of public security until 6 September 2004, when he was demoted to minister without portfolio due to a financial scandal. The scandal seemingly behind him, Hanegbi was appointed minister of Jerusalem affairs on 4 May 2005. He left Likud and joined Kadima in 2005 and was elected to the 17th Knesset on the Kadima Party list. In the 17th Knesset, he chaired the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. His ongoing trial on charges of fraud, breach of trust, perjury, and election bribery began in October 2006.