Shmuel Flatto-Sharon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shmuel Flatto-Sharon
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| Faction represented in the Knesset | |
| 1977–1981 | Development and Peace |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 January 1930 Łódź, Poland |
| Died | 7 December 2018 (aged 88) Ramat Gan, Israel |
Shmuel "Samy" Flatto-Sharon (Hebrew: שמואל פלאטו-שרון, 18 January 1930 – 7 December 2018) was a French-Israeli businessman and politician. He was also a radio talk-show host. He created his own political party and served as a member of the Knesset (Israel's parliament) from 1977 to 1981.
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Who Was Shmuel Flatto-Sharon?
Shmuel Flatto-Sharon was born as Shmuel Sheibitz in 1930. His family was Jewish and lived in Łódź, Poland. When the Germans invaded Poland, his family escaped to France. Shmuel had to disguise himself as a girl to stay safe. Sadly, many of his family members, including his father, died during the Holocaust.
Early Life and Business Success
Shmuel went to high school in Paris and Strasbourg, France. In 1945, when he was 15, he joined the Young Communist League.
He started working at a very young age. At 14, he sold cigarettes to soldiers and students. Later, he got into the recycling business. He made a lot of money recycling paper, old clothes, and scrap metal.
When he was 21, he began working in real estate. Throughout his twenties, he built a large business empire. He owned a transport company with many trucks. He also owned factories, restaurants, cafes, and hotels.
By the late 1960s, he had many companies. These businesses were in Europe, the United States, and South America. He also worked with oil, wood, and precious metals in Africa. He was involved in big projects in cities like Paris, New York City, Rio de Janeiro, and Tel Aviv.
Moving to Israel and New Ventures
In 1972, Shmuel moved to Israel. This move is called aliyah for Jewish people. He bought a large house in Savyon. He quickly started new businesses in Israel.
He worked with an Israeli businessman named Avraham Pilz. Together, they built the Dizengoff Center. This was Israel's very first shopping mall.
A Time in Israeli Politics
Even though he barely spoke Hebrew, Shmuel decided to enter politics. In 1977, he created his own political party. It was called Flatto-Sharon. He ran in the Knesset elections that year.
His party won enough votes for two seats in the Knesset. However, since it was a one-man party, he took only one seat. Some people thought his party got a lot of support because of a situation with France. France had refused to send someone wanted in Israel back to Israel.
Once he was in the Knesset, he joined the government led by Menachem Begin. One of his first actions was to vote for a law. This law made it harder to send Israeli citizens to other countries for legal reasons. He also worked on the Economic Affairs Committee. In 1978, he changed his party's name to Development and Peace. During his time in the Knesset, he helped in talks to free Israeli POWs (prisoners of war).
His party ran in the 1981 and 1984 elections. But they did not get enough votes to enter the Knesset again. After that, his party stopped existing.
Life After Politics
After leaving the Knesset in 1981, Shmuel went back to his private businesses. He and his wife, Annette, became well-known. They hosted many parties at their fancy house in Savyon. Business people and other famous people would attend.
Shmuel faced legal challenges in France. Because of this, he rarely left Israel for many years. In the early 1990s, he learned that he was no longer wanted by Interpol. He flew to Italy for a business trip. However, he was arrested when he arrived in Rome. He eventually paid a large fine to resolve his legal case with the French authorities.
Later in life, Shmuel Flatto-Sharon became a multi-millionaire. He worked mainly as a radio talk-show host. His show was called Flatto Bli Heshbon, which means "Flatto without accountability". It was broadcast on many radio stations in the Middle East.
Shmuel Flatto-Sharon was married three times and had two children. His daughter, Hilda, is a homeopathic doctor. His son, Yoav, is a private businessman.
Shmuel Flatto-Sharon passed away in Israel on 7 December 2018. He was 88 years old and died from a heart attack.
See also
- List of Israeli public officials convicted of crimes or misdemeanors
