The Menachem Begin Heritage Center, perched on the ridge overlooking the Old City walls and the Hinnom Valley, tells the story of one of Israel’s most controversial and consequential prime ministers. Begin led the Irgun underground against British rule, spent decades as the leader of the opposition, and then, as prime minister, signed the peace treaty with Egypt that transformed the Middle East.
The Underground
Menachem Begin arrived in the Land of Israel in 1942 as a refugee from Poland. Within a year, he became the commander of the Irgun Zvai Leumi, the Jewish underground organization that waged an armed revolt against the British Mandate. The museum documents the Irgun’s campaign, including the bombing of the King David Hotel in 1946, the controversial attack on Deir Yassin in 1948, and Begin’s years as Israel’s most wanted man, hunted by the British with a price on his head.
The Peace
Begin became prime minister in 1977, ending 29 years of Labor Party rule. His most historic act was the Camp David Accords with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, which led to the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty of 1979 and won both men the Nobel Peace Prize. The museum documents the negotiations, the dramatic moments, and the personal relationship between Begin and Sadat that made peace possible.
The Building
The center’s architecture, designed by Spector-Amisar Architects, is built into the hillside with dramatic views of the Old City. The museum uses multimedia, personal artifacts, and period film to tell Begin’s story. The view from the terrace, overlooking the walls and the valley, is one of the best in Jerusalem.
Visit with Hoshen Tours
The Begin Center tells the story of underground resistance, democratic transition, and the pursuit of peace. Hoshen Tours includes it for visitors interested in the making of modern Israel.