Yitzhak Herzog

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For his grandfather, see Rabbi Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog.

Yitzhak (Buzi) Herzog (Hebrew: יצחק הרצוג) (born: September 22, 1960) is an Israeli politician and lawyer, and former Minister of Housing and Building. He is currently second on the Labour list. As of May 4, 2006, he is the Minister of Tourism.

The son of Israeli President Chaim Herzog and Aura Herzog, he was born in Tel Aviv. He studied law in Tel Aviv University and Cornell. He is known by his nickname Buzi [1]

In 1999, he was elected to the Knesset for Labour, and served as government secretary in Ehud Barak's cabinet until 2001. In 1999, he was also investigated in the 'Amutot Barak' scandal (a scandal involving allegations that the party funding law was violated), but maintained his silence. The Attorney General, therefore, decided to close the case against him due to lack of evidence.

From 2000-2003, he served as chairman of the Israel Anti-Drug Authority. He was elected to the Knesset in the 2003 election and was appointed Minister of Housing and Building at his request in the coalition government. In November 23, 2005, he resigned from his cabinet post along with the rest of Labour. He was elected to the Knesset in the 2006 election, and became Minister of Tourism in the Kadima-led coalition government.

Herzog is chairman and whip of the Israeli-Australian Parliamentary Association. He is also one of the few Knesset members who still serves in the Military reserve (as a Major).