Haim Landau

Haim Landau was an Israeli independence fighter, Knesset member and Minister in the governments of Golda Meir and Menachem Begin.

Career

Landau was born in Kraków, Austria-Hungary and made aliyah to Mandate Palestine in 1935. He soon joined Betar and the Irgun and, according to the Irgun website, "took part in reprisals against the Arabs" while still finding time to complete his studies at the Technion as a construction engineer.
By 1940, he was a commander of the Betar branch in Haifa, and in early 1944 was transferred to Tel Aviv and appointed member of the General Headquarters by the end of year. In 1947, he represented the Irgun, together with Begin and Shmuel [Katz (politician)|Shmuel Katz], at a meeting with the United Nations [Special Committee on Palestine|UNSCOP].

Post-independence

Landau was among the founders of the Herut, and was a member of the first to eighth Knessets. He was a member of the Begin cabinet, serving as Minister of Development in 1967–1970 and despite not retaining his seat in the 1977 elections, was made Minister of Transport by Menachem Begin, a role he retained until the 1981 elections.

Commemoration

After his death, the Ministry of Transportation renamed Highway 5 after him. A bridge over the Ayalon highway and streets in Ramat Gan, Bnei Brak, Holon, Be'er Sheva, Giv'at Shmuel and Ramat Hasharon are named after him.