Moshe Arens navigated a dual trajectory as a prominent aeronautical engineer and a central figure in Israeli political life. His career spanned decades of public service, beginning with technical contributions to military aviation and evolving into top-tier leadership roles within the Ministry of Defense and the Israeli diplomatic corps.
Formative Years and Engineering
Born in Kaunas in 1925, Arens moved to Latvia as a child before emigrating to New York City in 1939. He attended George Washington High School and served in the United States Army Corps of Engineers during World War II. He earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1947. After relocating to Israel in 1948, he performed engineering work for Tel Aviv water systems. He later returned to the United States to study aeronautical engineering at the California Institute of Technology under Qian Xuesen.
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From 1957 to 1962, Arens served as an associate professor at the Technion in Haifa, contributing to the field of aeronautical engineering through academic research on propulsion and flight mechanics. He transitioned to the aircraft industry, serving as Deputy Director General for Engineering at Israel Aircraft Industries from 1962 to 1971. In this capacity, he managed major technical programs, including the development of the IAI Arava transport plane and the IAI Kfir fighter jet. He received the Israel Defense Prize in 1971.
Political Leadership
Arens was elected to the Knesset as a member of Likud in 1973. He served multiple terms in parliament between 1977 and 2003, notably acting as Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. His executive service included three tenures as Minister of Defense and one term as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Additionally, he represented Israel as Ambassador to the United States from 1982 to 1983. His later years were marked by his work as an opinion journalist and his research into the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
Fast facts
- Born: 1925, Kaunas
- Died: 2019, Savyon
- Education: MIT, California Institute of Technology
- Primary Fields: Aeronautical engineering, diplomacy, politics
- Political Party: Likud
- Key Recognition: Israel Defense Prize (1971), Bonei Zion Prize (2016)
- Burial Site: Savyon Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Moshe Arens write about?
He authored technical books on aeronautical engineering and non-fiction works including 'Flags Over the Warsaw Ghetto' and his political memoir, 'In Defense of Israel'.
Which cabinet positions did he hold?
Arens served as Minister of Defense on three occasions, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Minister without portfolio.
Achievements
- Affiliated with University of Haifa and Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
- Educated at California Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and George Washington Educational Campus
- Worked as diplomat, politician and entrepreneur
