Yossi Beilin was born in 1948 in Israel.
After writing as a journalist and editorial board member of "Davar", he
received his Ph.D. in political science from Tel-Aviv University and was a scholar in the Tel-Aviv University Institute for the Study of Zionism.
Dr. Beilin served as spokesman of the Israel Labor Party from 1977-1984.
He served as Cabinet Secretary from 1984-1986, and as Director-General
for Political Affairs of the Foreign Ministry from 1986-1988.
He was elected to the Knesset in 1988, and served as Deputy Minister of
Finance from 1988-1990. He was a member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense, Immigration and Absorption, and Constitution, Law and Justice Committees (1990-1992).
From 1992-1995 Beilin served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
In July 1995, he was appointed Minister of Economics and Planning.
In November 1995, he was appointed Minister without Portfolio in the Prime Minister's Office, serving until July 1996.
From 1996-1999 he served as a member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense, and Constitution, Law and Justice Committees and the Committee for the Advancement of the Status of Women. He resigned from the 15th Knesset in November 1999.
Yossi Beilin served as Minister of Justice from July 1999 until March 2001, and also held the Religious Affairs portfolio from August 2000.
Beilin has published several books and many articles on Israel's history, the peace process and Jewish affairs. He is the author of Sons in the Shadow of their Fathers,
The Price of Unity, Industry in Israel and Israel at Age 40 Plus (all in Hebrew); and Israel, A Concise Political History.
He is married and the father of two.