An Israeli general and politician, founder of the far-right Moledet or Homeland party, now called the National Union Party. Two days ago he announced his resignation from the Sharon coalition government, in which he was tourism minister, due to take effect today (17 October), but he was assassinated in Jerusalem's Hyatt Hotel earlier this morning. The PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) has claimed responsibility, in retaliation for the murder of senior figures, including its own leader Abu Ali Mustafa in August.

Zeevi had extremist political views even by Israeli standards: he opposed any reduction of Israel's presence in Palestine, even those areas just re-occupied in Hebron in recent days of the intifada. He favoured expulsion of Palestinians from all Israeli-occupied territories, and described them as "lice".

He was 75, and had been a general in charge of the central region. In 1974 he left the army to become an adviser to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and in 1988 formed the Moledet party.

He had the ironical nickname "Gandhi".

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