Prime Ministers in History: Yigal Allon

Allon was acting Prime Minister of Israel from the death of Levi Eshkol, in February, 1969, until the election of Golda Meir in March. His Prime Ministership lasted less than a month.

Allon was born in the British Mandate of Palestine in 1918. He was a general in the IDF before he became a politician. He was elected into the Knesset for the first time in 1955. He remained an MK until his death in 1980.

After his short tenure as Prime Minister, Allon became Deputy Prime Minister to Golda Meir while acting as Minister of Education and Culture. During his time in the Knesset, he was aligned with the old Ahdut HaAvodah, which merged into Alignment. Alignment is the predecessor to the modern Avodah (Labor) party. He also held the ministerial roles of Minister of Labor, Minister of Immigrant Absorption, and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

At the time of his death, Allon was contesting Shimon Peres for leadership of the Alignment party which would have put him on track to be elected Prime Minister. The Allon freeway is named in his memory.