Elie Yossef
Encyclopedia
Elie Yossef is a London-born Israeli educator and political activist.
Eli Yossef grew up in London
and attended the Hasmonean High School
where he established Betar
England
in 1973. In 1975, Yossef came on Aliyah
to Israel
and served in the Golani
and Paratroopers brigades of the Israel Defense Forces
. After completing his military service, Yossef studied at Machon Meir
and Hebrew University. In 1988, Yossef founded a Youth Aliyah
(Aliyat haNoar) high school for new immigrants from France. In 1997, he organized a military preparatory program for Jewish students from abroad interested in volunteering in Israel's army.
One of his major causes is freeing Jonathan Pollard
. In January 2000, Yossef conducted a hunger strike on Pollard's behalf outside of Israel's Parliament. He argued that anyone who passes classified information to the State of Israel regarding enemy intentions to harm Israel is morally innocent even if technically guilty by American law. In 2002 Yossef traveled to numerous Israeli high-schools and spoke of Pollard's plight as a moral national issue. Working with former Prisoners of Zion Natan Sharansky
and Rabbi Yosef Mendelevitch
, Yossef has led the Israeli campaign to free Pollard until a falling out with Pollard's wife Esther in late 2004.
Yossef has urged the Israeli government to establish what happened to Raoul Wallenberg
, a Swedish
diplomat who saved countless Jews from the Holocaust during World War II
but was arrested following the war by Soviet agents and disappeared.
Following the violent confrontation at Amona
between the Israeli police and settler
teenagers in early 2006, Yossef led Mehi
activists on a three week hunger strike vigil protesting violence between Jews. The activists displayed banners and handed out fliers calling on the Israeli government and settler leadership to seek out ways to avoid future bloodshed.
Yossef has called on the government of Israel to cut diplomatic ties to Russia
due to Russia's involvement in Iran
's nuclear development program. Yossef told Israel National Radio's Yishai Fleisher
that "the Jewish People must find the moral courage to stand up to super-powers in such situations."
Yossef actively opposed the Camp David Accords
with Egypt
and Israel's subsequent withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula
). Yossef has referred to himself as a "Humanitarian Zionist".
Yossef now works as a realtor and worker. In August 2005 he founded the Eli Joseph Jerusalem Real Estate company.
Eli Yossef grew up in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and attended the Hasmonean High School
Hasmonean High School
HasmoHigh School is a voluntary aided, comprehensive school, for pupils aged 11 to 18 from Orthodox Jewish families, situated in the London Borough of Barnet.-Admissions:...
where he established Betar
Betar
The Betar Movement is a Revisionist Zionist youth movement founded in 1923 in Riga, Latvia, by Vladimir Jabotinsky. It has been traditionally linked to the original Herut and then Likud political parties of Israel, and was closely affiliated with the pre-Israel Revisionist Zionist splinter group...
England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1973. In 1975, Yossef came on Aliyah
Aliyah
Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...
to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and served in the Golani
Golani
Golani may refer to:*Golani Brigade, an Israeli infantry brigade*Golani Family, an Indian royal family*Golani Junction, a location in Israel*Rivka Golani , an Israeli viola player* Golani, anti-communist protestors, from the Romanian Golaniad...
and Paratroopers brigades of the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
. After completing his military service, Yossef studied at Machon Meir
Machon Meir
Machon Meir' is a religious Zionist outreach organization and yeshiva situated in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Kiryat Moshe, close to Givat Shaul...
and Hebrew University. In 1988, Yossef founded a Youth Aliyah
Youth Aliyah
Szold was initially skeptical about the merits of Freier's proposal, as she believed that Germany offered better educational opportunities for Jewish children than Palestine. However, Hitler's rise to power convinced her otherwise. The Nuremberg Laws were enacted in 1935 and on 31 March 1936 German...
(Aliyat haNoar) high school for new immigrants from France. In 1997, he organized a military preparatory program for Jewish students from abroad interested in volunteering in Israel's army.
One of his major causes is freeing Jonathan Pollard
Jonathan Pollard
Jonathan Jay Pollard worked as a civilian intelligence analyst before being convicted of spying for Israel. He received a life sentence in 1987....
. In January 2000, Yossef conducted a hunger strike on Pollard's behalf outside of Israel's Parliament. He argued that anyone who passes classified information to the State of Israel regarding enemy intentions to harm Israel is morally innocent even if technically guilty by American law. In 2002 Yossef traveled to numerous Israeli high-schools and spoke of Pollard's plight as a moral national issue. Working with former Prisoners of Zion Natan Sharansky
Natan Sharansky
Natan Sharansky was born in Stalino, Soviet Union on 20 January 1948 to a Jewish family. He graduated with a degree in applied mathematics from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. As a child, he was a chess prodigy. He performed in simultaneous and blindfold displays, usually against...
and Rabbi Yosef Mendelevitch
Yosef Mendelevitch
Yosef Mendelevitch , was a well-known Jewish refusenik, also known as a "Prisoner of Zion" and now a Religious Zionist rabbi in the former Soviet Union who gained fame for his adherence to Zionism and public attempts to emigrate to Israel at a time when it was considered to be against the law in...
, Yossef has led the Israeli campaign to free Pollard until a falling out with Pollard's wife Esther in late 2004.
Yossef has urged the Israeli government to establish what happened to Raoul Wallenberg
Raoul Wallenberg
Raoul Wallenberg was a Swedish businessman, diplomat and humanitarian. He is widely celebrated for his successful efforts to rescue thousands of Jews in Nazi-occupied Hungary from the Holocaust, during the later stages of World War II...
, a Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
diplomat who saved countless Jews from the Holocaust during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
but was arrested following the war by Soviet agents and disappeared.
Following the violent confrontation at Amona
Amona
Amona is an Israeli settlement in the central West Bank, on a hill overlooking Ofra. Located within the municipal boundaries of the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council, the village was founded in 1997 on a hilltop of privately owned Palestinian land and inhabited by young settlers from Ofra.By late...
between the Israeli police and settler
Settler
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
teenagers in early 2006, Yossef led Mehi
Magshimey Herut
World Magshimey Herut is a Zionist young adult movement founded in 1999 by a group of Jewish activists who felt the need for a young adult movement dedicated to the ideals of aliyah, social justice and the territorial integrity of the Land of Israel...
activists on a three week hunger strike vigil protesting violence between Jews. The activists displayed banners and handed out fliers calling on the Israeli government and settler leadership to seek out ways to avoid future bloodshed.
Yossef has called on the government of Israel to cut diplomatic ties to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
due to Russia's involvement in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
's nuclear development program. Yossef told Israel National Radio's Yishai Fleisher
Yishai Fleisher
Yishai Fleisher is a TV and radio broadcaster based in Israel. He produces and hosts , the only English language talk show on Israeli broadcast radio. The show is aired on the station. Yishai founded and currently directs , a non-profit education and outreach organization dedicated to...
that "the Jewish People must find the moral courage to stand up to super-powers in such situations."
Yossef actively opposed the Camp David Accords
Camp David Accords
The Camp David Accords were signed by Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin on September 17, 1978, following thirteen days of secret negotiations at Camp David. The two framework agreements were signed at the White House, and were witnessed by United States...
with Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and Israel's subsequent withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula
Sinai Peninsula
The Sinai Peninsula or Sinai is a triangular peninsula in Egypt about in area. It is situated between the Mediterranean Sea to the north, and the Red Sea to the south, and is the only part of Egyptian territory located in Asia as opposed to Africa, effectively serving as a land bridge between two...
). Yossef has referred to himself as a "Humanitarian Zionist".
Yossef now works as a realtor and worker. In August 2005 he founded the Eli Joseph Jerusalem Real Estate company.