Yehoshua Ben-Zion

Yehoshua Ben-Zion (1924 – 2004) (Hebrew: יהושע בן ציון) was an Israeli banker. He served as the managing director of Israel-British Bank. Following the collapse of the bank in July 1974, owing British investors £46.6 million, Ben-Zion was convicted of embezzling £20 million ($39.4 million) from the bank. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison. After urging of the Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin in 1977, Ben-Zion was pardoned by the Israeli president Ephraim Katzir, on medical grounds. He was released after serving three years.[1][2]

Ben-Zion was born in Mandate Palestine and spent his childhood in the USA. He was a member of the Irgun and later became a colonel in the Israel Defense Forces. In 1972 he was a jurist in the trial of the women involved in the Sabena Flight 571 hijacking.[3]

In 1973 he was the president of Lydda Military Court, with rank of major.[4]

References

  1. Israel Yearbook on Human Rights 1979, Volume 9; Volume 1979 By Yoram Dinstein, p. 2011
  2. Justice in Israel: a study of the Israeli judiciary, p. 241
  3. "Woman on Tribunal to Try Sabena Girl Hijackers." Jewish Telegraphic Agency 31 Jul 1972.
  4. Langer, Felicia (1974) With my own eyes. Israel and the Occupied Territories 1967-1973. Ithaca Press. ISBN 0-903729-10-5. Pages 124-126.