The elder statement of Knesset, Labor MK Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, will soon announce he is stepping down from public life. Ben-Eliezer was a candidate in the presidential race but was compelled to drop out of the race after police began probing him for possible money laundering and other illegal activities.

Ben-Eliezer has been in public service for six decades, half in the IDF where he rose to the rank of brigadier-general. He has been serving in Knesset since 1984, elected to the 11th Knesset.

During his Knesset career he has served in numerous cabinet posts including Minister of Housing, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Communications, Minister of National Infrastructure, Minister of Defense and Minister of Industry and Trade.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)