Menachem Begin

Born in Brest-Litovsk, then part of the Russian Empire, Menachem Begin's early life was steeped in Zionist youth movements. His commitment to a Jewish state was not merely academic; it was forged in the crucible of pre-Holocaust Europe and solidified by the existential threats faced by nascent Israel. He was, to put it mildly, deeply involved in the whole "Jewish thing."

Begin led the Irgun, a revisionist Zionist paramilitary organization, during the Mandate era, advocating for an independent Jewish state on both sides of the Jordan River. Later, as a political leader, he founded the Likud party, becoming a dominant force in Israeli politics for decades. His journey from underground leader to legitimate statesman is a testament to his unwavering conviction, though not without its fair share of controversy.

His crowning achievement, and perhaps his most surprising, was signing the Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty in 1979 alongside Anwar Sadat, for which they jointly received the Nobel Peace Prize. This act of statesmanship, coming from a man once labeled a terrorist by some, showcased a pragmatism that transcended his hardline reputation. He made peace, earned a Nobel, and led the Jewish state. What else is there to say?