With a decades of immigration of Iranian Jews to Israel, they are slowly gaining respect acceptance by the population as whole. Over the past 2 decades one can see an immergence into the public arena, they are much more involved in public life, holding public office and other prestigious positions. Most notably are President Moshe Katsav (Ghasab) and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, both Iranian born.

Shaul Mofaz

Lt.-Gen. Shaul Mofaz, born in Iran in 1948, is married with four children. He immigrated to Israel in 1957. In 1966 he joined the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and as a paratrooper, in the Six-Day War he fought in the Negev. He then filled command positions in the Paratroop Brigade. He commanded the Paratroop Reconnaissance Unit and a paratroop battalion, served as a Deputy Paratroop Brigade Commander, and commanded the Paratroop Brigade. During the 1982 Operation Peace for Galilee, he was an infantry brigade commander. He received a BA in business administration from Bar-Ilan University and attended the Command and Staff College of the US Marine Corps. Subsequently he served as the Commander of IDF Officers School.

1986-88 Commander of the Paratroop Brigade
1988 Promoted to Brigadier-General
1988-90 Held senior position in Ground Corps Command
1990-92 Commander of the Galilee Formation
1993-94 Officer Commanding IDF forces in Judea and Samaria
1994 Promoted to Major-General
1994-96 G.O.C. Southern Command
1996-97 Chief of Planning Branch of the General Staff
1997 Deputy Chief of General Staff and Chief of General Staff Branch (J-3)
1998-2002 Became sixteenth Chief of General Staff

In November 2002, Shaul Mofaz was appointed Minister of Defense. He is married with four children.

Moshe Katsav