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Middle East Institute is honored to host MK Ephraim Sneh, former Deputy Defense Minister of Israel. Minister Sneh has served in the Knesset since 1982 and as Minister of Health (1993-1996), Deputy Minister of Defense (1999-2001), and Minister of Transportation (2001-2002). In March 2006, he was re-elected to the Knesset and served as Chairman of the Labor Parliamentary Faction. In October 2006, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Defense for the second time.

Dr. Sneh has an M.D. from Tel Aviv University Faculty of Medicine, and was a Research Fellow at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He served as a career officer in the IDF until 1987, retiring with the rank of Brigadier General. He began his military career as a Medical Officer in the Paratroops Brigade and in 1974 became Chief Medical Officer of the Paratroops and Infantry Corps. He served as commander of the medical teams during the Entebbe Rescue Operation in 1976. In 1980, he was promoted to Chief Medical Officer of the IDF Northern Command, and the following year became Commander of the Security Zone in South Lebanon. He served as Head of the Civil Administration of the West Bank from 1985-87.