<P> In 1966, during the Gahal party convention (a predecessor to today's Likud), party leader Menachem Begin was challenged by the young Olmert, who called for his resignation . Begin announced that he would retire from party leadership, but soon reversed his decision when the crowd emotionally pleaded with him to stay . Olmert was first elected to the Knesset in 1973 at the age of 28, and was re-elected seven consecutive times . Between 1981 and 1989, he served as a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and served on the Finance, Education and Defense Budget Committees . He served as minister without portfolio, responsible for minority affairs between 1988 and 1990, and as minister of health from 1990 until 1992 . Following Likud's defeat in the 1992 election, instead of remaining a Knesset member in the opposition, he successfully ran for mayor of Jerusalem in November 1993 . </P> <P> Between 1993 and 2003, Olmert served two terms as mayor of Jerusalem, the first member of Likud or its precursors to hold the position . During his term in office, he devoted himself to the initiation and advancement of major projects in the city, the development and improvement of the education system, and the development of road infrastructure . He also spearheaded the development of the light rail system in Jerusalem, and the investment of millions of shekels in the development of mass transportation options for the city . </P> <P> While mayor of Jerusalem, Olmert was an invited speaker at an international conflict resolution conference held in Derry, Northern Ireland . In his address, he spoke of how "Political leaders can help change the psychological climate which affects the quality of relationships among people ." His speech concluded with reflections on the importance of political process in overcoming differences: "How are fears born? They are born because of differences in tradition and history; they are born because of differences in emotional, political and national circumstances . Because of such differences, people fear they cannot live together . If we are to overcome such fear, a credible and healthy political process must be carefully and painfully developed . A political process that does not aim to change the other or to overcome differences, but that allows each side to live peacefully in spite of their differences ." </P> <P> Olmert was elected as a member of the sixteenth Knesset in January 2003 . He served as the head of the election campaign for Likud in the elections, and subsequently was the chief negotiator of the coalition agreement . Following the elections he was appointed as Designated Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor . From 2003 to 2004, he also served as Minister of Communications . </P>

In 1999 israel elected as its prime minister answers