Amram Mitzna

(1945 - )

Amram Mitzna was born 1945 on Kibbutz Dovrat. He holds B.A. in Geography and M.A. in Political Science from Haifa University; he also completed the graduate program in public administration at Harvard University, Boston.

Mitzna joined the IDF in 1963, serving mainly in the Armored Corps, rising from tank commander to divisional commander. He was wounded twice, in the 1967 Six-Day War and in the 1973 Yom Kippur War and was awarded two Medals of Distinguished Service.

As a brigadier general in 1982, Mitzna criticized then-Defense Minister Ariel Sharon's handling of the Lebanon War. From 1986-1990 he served as GOC Central Command, overall commander in the West Bank during the early years of the first Palestinian intifada. In 1990 he was appointed head of the IDF Planning Division and in 1993 retired from IDF with the rank of major general.

In November 1993, Amram Mitzna was elected mayor of Haifa and was reelected to a second term with a majority of 65% of the votes. During his two terms as mayor, Mitzna formed a broad coalition together with the Likud.

In August 2002, Mitzna announced his candidacy for the leadership of the Labor party, and for the premiership ahead of 2003 elections, and in November 2002 was elected party chairman.

Mitzna is married with three children.