Ehud Olmert was born in Binyamina in 1945.
He served in the IDF as combat infantry unit officer. After suffering injuries to a leg and an arm, He completed his military service in 1971 as a military correspondent for the IDF journal Bamachane. A lawyer by profession, he holds B.A. degree in psychology and philosophy (1968) as well an LL.B. (1973) from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Ehud Olmert was a Knesset Member from 1973, serving on the House, Constitution, Law & Justice Committee, State Control, Foreign Affairs && Defense, Finance, Education & Culture, and Internal Affairs & Environment Committees.
From 1979-1982 he volunteered in the IDF and completed an officers’ course while serving as an MK, volunteering for reserve service in Lebanon.
From 1988-1990 he served as Minister Without Portfolio responsible for minority affairs, and from 1990 until 1992 as Minister of Health.
In November 1993, Olmert was elected Mayor of Jerusalem, advancing national infrastructure projects such as major thoroughfares and the light rail. He resigned from the Knesset in 1998. After his re-election to the Knesset in 2003, he resigned from his position as mayor in February 2003.
In February 2003, Ehud Olmert was appointed Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor and Communications, holding the latter portfolio until January 2005. In August 2005 he was appointed Acting Minister of Finance, and in November 2005, Minister of Finance.
On January 4, 2006, when Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a brain hemmorhage Olmert was designated Acting Prime Minister in accordance with with the Basic Law: Government and on April 14, Interim Prime Minister.
Following elections to the 17th Knesset as head of the Kadima party, Ehud Olmert became Prime Minister of the 31st Government of Israel.
He is married, with four children.