Michael Ratzon

(1952 - )

Michael Ratzon is an Israeli politician and former member of th Knesset for the Likud Party.

Ratzon was born in 1952 in Petah Tikva. An attorney by profession, he holds an L.L.B. and an MA in law from Bar-Ilan University and studied history at Tel Aviv University.

Ratzon served in the elite Sayeret Egoz and Sayeret Rimon reconnaissance units and in the Golani Brigade. Ratzon was also an instructor at Officers' Candidate School and served as an Operations Branch officer, battalion commander, deputy brigade commander, and Yarkon Region commander in the Home Front Command.

Ratzon served in the 13th and 16th Knessets, initially becoming a member in March 1996 as a replacement for the deceased Ariel Weinstein.

Ratzon was appointed Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade in March 2003 but was sacked by PRime Minister Ariel Sharon in October 2004 for voting against the proposed disengagement plan.

He is married with five children and lives in Kochav Yair.

Sources: Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs