1. Rabbi Binyamin "Benny" Elon was an Israeli Orthodox rabbi and politician who served as a member of the Knesset for Moledet and the National Union between 1996 and 2009.
14 Facts About Binyamin Elon
1. 2.
Binyamin Elon's brother, disgraced Rabbi Mordechai Elon, has been a prominent controversial figure in the Religious Zionist Movement.
3.
Together with Hanan Porat, he founded the Beit Orot Talmudic College, and Binyamin Elon became its first dean.
4.
Binyamin Elon was first elected to the Knesset in 1996 as a member of the right-wing Moledet Party, advocating "voluntary" transfer of the Palestinian population from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, an ideology shared by Elon.
5.
Binyamin Elon's efforts were unsuccessful and a court ruled in favor of the Abu Jibna family who owned it.
6.
Binyamin Elon consequently served two terms as Minister of Tourism, between 2001 and 2002, and again between 2003 and 2004, both in Ariel Sharon's government.
7.
Binyamin Elon was re-elected in 2006, but did not run in the 2009 elections due to health issues.
8.
Binyamin Elon was a keen supporter of the continuation of the Israeli settlement enterprise in the West Bank and wanted to rebuild the Gaza settlements.
9.
Binyamin Elon did not recognize a Palestinian right for self-determination in any part of Eretz Israel, the area which he stated God gave to the Jews according to the Hebrew Bible.
10.
Binyamin Elon was the author of God's Covenant with Israel: Establishing Biblical Boundaries in Today's World.
11.
Binyamin Elon served as the Chairman of the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus in the Israeli Parliament, growing its influence and connections.
12.
The work of the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus and the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus led to the establishment of 34 additional caucuses in nations worldwide, and in 2007, Rabbi Binyamin Elon founded the Israel Allies Foundation to resource, educate, and encourage the pro-Israel initiatives of this international parliamentary network.
13.
Binyamin Elon maintained close contacts with Christians worldwide, including radio personality Janet Parshall, former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, the Christian Coalition of America, Pat Robertson, Hungarian Pastor Sandor Nemeth, and others.
14.
Binyamin Elon was treated, but it was never cured, and he retired in 2008 due to related health problems.