Yigal Cohen-Orgad

Yigal Cohen-Orgad was born in 1937 in Tel Aviv

Cohen-Orgad was born in Tel Aviv in 1937. As a youth he belonged to the Bnei Etzel movement, and he was expelled from his religious high school because of his Betar membership.

After serving in the IDF, he studied economics and education at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He also earned a master's degree in economics and business administration there.

In 1962 he joined the Economic Planning Authority in the Ministry of Finance, and later ran a private economic consulting firm. A member of Herut, he helped found the Free Center, then returned to Herut in late 1974 and chaired its economic council. He entered the Knesset on the Likud list in 1977 and added Orgad to his name, formed from the initials of his 4 children.

He was appointed Minister of Finance in October 1983 after Yoram Aridor resigned, and served until September 1984. Inflation rose during his term. He was not included in the next cabinet and lost his seat in 1988.

Later he served as a director at Bank Leumi, Bezeq and the Israel Electric Corporation. He helped found the College of Judea and Samaria and became chancellor of Ariel University. He died in 2019.