Uri Avnery, a renowned Israeli writer and founder of the Gush Shalom peace movement, was born on September 10, 1923. During his teenage years, he was a member of the Irgun, a Jewish paramilitary organization. Avnery's political career spanned several decades, as he served in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, from 1965 to 1974 and again from 1979 to 1981.
In addition to his political pursuits, Avnery was also the owner of HaOlam HaZeh, a prominent Israeli news magazine, from 1950 until its closure in 1993. Avnery's most notable achievement was his historic meeting with Yassir Arafat, the Palestinian leader, on July 3, 1982, during the Battle of Beirut. This encounter marked the first time Arafat had ever met with an Israeli.
As an author, Avnery has written extensively on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, penning several books on the subject. Some of his notable works include "1948: A Soldier's Tale, the Bloody Road to Jerusalem" (2008),"Israel's Vicious Circle" (2008),and "My Friend, the Enemy" (1986).
