Simha Erlich | |
|---|---|
שמחה ארליך | |
 | |
| Ministerial roles | |
| 1977–1979 | Finance Minister |
| 1977–1983 | Deputy Prime Minister |
| 1981–1983 | Agriculture Minister |
| Faction represented in theKnesset | |
| 1969–1974 | Gahal |
| 1974–1983 | Likud |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 December 1915 Bachowa,Austria-Hungary (today Poland) |
| Died | 19 June 1983 (aged 67) |
Simha Erlich (Hebrew:שמחה ארליך; 15 December 1915[1] – 19 June 1983) was an Israeli politician. Erlich was leader of theLiberal Party and served in theKnesset from 1969 to 1983. Erlich notably served asMinister of Finance under Prime MinisterMenachem Begin, where he was known for his efforts toliberalize theIsraeli economy, and also served asDeputy Prime Minister of Israel.
Erlich was born on 15 December 1915 in the village ofBachów, then part of theKingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria inAustria-Hungary (now part of modernPoland). He was a member of theGeneral Zionists youth movement.
Hemade aliyah toMandatory Palestine in 1938 and settled inNes Ziona, where he worked as a farmer. He studiedoptics and founded a lens factory.
In 1955, he was elected toTel Aviv city council, and became a member of theLiberal Party. In1969, he quit the city council and was elected to the Knesset on theGahal list (Gahal being a coalition between the Liberal Party andHerut). In 1976, he was elected chairman of the Liberal Party.[2]
After the1977 elections, he was appointedFinance Minister andDeputy Prime Minister. As Minister of Finance, he tried sought to liberalise the Israeli economy by abolishing foreign currency regulations and travel taxes, as well as cheapening imported goods. In 1978, Erlich presented a budget that he predicted would reduce the country's deficit.[3]
It soon turned out that Israel's economy was not prepared for such a drastic change, as could be seen by the subsequent deterioration of the balance of payments, the mass increase of goods import and sharp rise of inflation rate.
Consequently, Erlich was forced to resign as Minister of Finance. However, he remained Deputy Prime Minister and was in charge of the development of theGalilee, the Arab sector and re-absorption of emigrants.[2]
After the 1981 elections, Erlich was appointedAgriculture Minister and remained Deputy Prime Minister.[2]
Erlich died on 19 June 1983 at the age of 67 afterheart bypass surgery and was buried inNachalat Yitzhak Cemetery.
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