Dr. Ze'ev Benjamin Begin, son of the late Prime Minister Menahem Begin, was born in Jerusalem in 1943. He earned his B.Sc and M.Sc from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and his Ph.D in Geology from Colorado State University in the USA. Begin served in the Armored Corps from 1960-3 and during 1975-6 volunteered for a lengthy period of military service.
As a geologist, Dr. Begin worked at the Geological Survey of Israel (1965-88), where he headed the Environmental Geology and Hydrology Division, and the Mapping, Marine Geology and Computer Center Division. He was also co-ordinator of studies on the siting of the nuclear power plant in Israel. Since 1989, he has served as the head of the Research Institute of the College of Judea and Samaria.
As a Knesset Member from 1988 until 1999, Begin served as a member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense and Constitution, Law and Justice Committees.
In June 1996 he was appointed Minister of Science and served until his resignation in January 1997. He was elected to the 18th Knesset in February 2009 on the Likud list and in March 2009 was appointed Minister.
Dr. Begin is married and has six children.