Haim Oron was born and raised in Tel Aviv. A graduate of the Hashomer Hatzair youth movement, he joined the Nahal Paratroopers in the IDF, with part of his service based at Kibbutz Lahav in the Negev. He began civilian life on the Kibbutz, which he duly joined as a member.
Oron's public life began as Secretary of Hashomer Hatzair in 1964, and Secretary of the Kibbutz Artzi (Federation) in 1968, returning to agricultural and industrial management on the kibbutz in 1972. He was awarded the prestigious Namir prize for development of a wheat irrigation system. He continued to be politically involved and was one of the founders of the Peace Now movement, and returned to serve as head of the Kibbutz Artzi movement in 1984.
In 1988, Oron was elected to the 12th Knesset as a member of Mapam - the United Workers' Party, which merged with Ratz and Shinui to form Meretz. Since then, he has been a member of Meretz and its alliances, through the 17th Knesset, although he resigned from the 15th Knesset in the summer of 2000.
His primary roles have been as member and Chairperson of the Ethics Committee, and member of the Finance Committee, Environment committee and State Control Committee. He has been active on Lobbies for Higher Education, Public Health, Agriculture, Handicapped, Beduin Rights in the Negev, Jewish-Arab Coexistence and others related to social and environmental issues; he has promoted laws of social interest and led opposition to restrictive budgets.
In the second half of the 13th Knesset term under the Rabin government, Haim Oron also served as Treasurer of the Histadrut (Trade Union Movement); during the 14th Knesset (1996-1999), he was Meretz Parliamentary Chairman; during the 15th Knesset, he served for ten months as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and was later elected Meretz Party Chairman. During the 16th Knesset, he was one of the founders and movers of the Geneva Accords.
Biography
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2000/6/Haim+Oron.htm
http://www.knesset.gov.il/mk/eng/mk_eng.asp?mk_individual_id_t=5
Hebrew
http://www.jumes.org.il/about/