Ovadia Eli
Encyclopedia
Ovadia Eli is an Israel
i former politician who served as a member of the Knesset
for Likud
from 1984 until 1996, Deputy Minister of Defense between 1991 and 1992, and mayor of Afula from 1978 until 1991. Since leaving the Knesset, he has headed several government-owned companies, and is currently the CEO of the Israel Airports Authority
.
in Iraq in 1945, Eli made aliyah
to Israel in 1950. He studied at the Lifschitz Seminar for Education, and received a BA from the University of Haifa
, after which he worked as a teacher. He later became head of the school system in the north of the country.
A member of Herut
, he was elected mayor of Afula
in 1978, a position he held until 1991. He was elected to the Knesset on the Likud list (then an alliance of Herut and other right-wing parties) in 1984
. He was re-elected in 1988
, and was appointed Deputy Speaker. On 8 July 1991 he was also appointed Deputy Defense Minister. During the Knesset term Eli chaired the Special Committee for Amending the Galilee Law and the Committee on Drug Abuse. He was re-elected again in 1992
and remained a Deputy Speaker until losing his seat in the 1996 elections
(despite finishing 18th in the Likud primaries, he was assigned an unrealistic place on the party list).
After leaving the Knesset, he was appointed CEO of Oil Refineries Ltd
by Minister of National Infrastructure
, Ariel Sharon
. In April 2005 he was appointed CEO of Israel Military Industries
by Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz
, but resigned in June 2006. In October that year, he became CEO of the Israel Airports Authority.
In addition to political activities, Eli was also a member of the board of the Jewish Agency for Israel
and a member of the Amidar
housing company's directorate.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i former politician who served as a member of the Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
for Likud
Likud
Likud is the major center-right political party in Israel. It was founded in 1973 by Menachem Begin in an alliance with several right-wing and liberal parties. Likud's victory in the 1977 elections was a major turning point in the country's political history, marking the first time the left had...
from 1984 until 1996, Deputy Minister of Defense between 1991 and 1992, and mayor of Afula from 1978 until 1991. Since leaving the Knesset, he has headed several government-owned companies, and is currently the CEO of the Israel Airports Authority
Israel Airports Authority
The Israel Airports Authority was founded in 1977 as a public corporation mandated by the Israel Airports Authority Law. The authority is responsible for the management of Israel's major civil airports and land-to-land border terminals between Israel and its neighbours...
.
Biography
Born in KhanaqinKhanaqin
Khanaqin is a city in Iraq. It is located at 34.3°N, 45.4°E in the Diyala Governorate, near the Iranian border on a tributary of the Diyala River...
in Iraq in 1945, Eli made 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 in 1950. He studied at the Lifschitz Seminar for Education, and received a BA from the University of Haifa
University of Haifa
The University of Haifa is a university in Haifa, Israel.The University of Haifa was founded in 1963 by Haifa mayor Abba Hushi, to operate under the academic auspices of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem....
, after which he worked as a teacher. He later became head of the school system in the north of the country.
A member of Herut
Herut
Herut was the major right-wing political party in Israel from the 1940s until its formal merger into Likud in 1988, and an adherent of Revisionist Zionism.-History:...
, he was elected mayor of Afula
Afula
Afula is a city in the North District of Israel, often known as the "Capital of the Valley", referring to the Jezreel Valley. The city had a population of 40,500 at the end of 2009.-History:...
in 1978, a position he held until 1991. He was elected to the Knesset on the Likud list (then an alliance of Herut and other right-wing parties) in 1984
Israeli legislative election, 1984
Elections for the eleventh Knesset were held in Israel on 23 July 1984. Voter turnout was 78.8%. The results saw the Alignment return to being the largest party in the Knesset, a status it had lost in 1977...
. He was re-elected in 1988
Israeli legislative election, 1988
Elections for the twelfth Knesset were held in Israel on 1 November 1988. Voter turnout was 79.7%.-Results:1 Five members of the Likud left to form the Party for the Advancement of the Zionist Idea; after two returned, the party was renamed the New Liberal Party...
, and was appointed Deputy Speaker. On 8 July 1991 he was also appointed Deputy Defense Minister. During the Knesset term Eli chaired the Special Committee for Amending the Galilee Law and the Committee on Drug Abuse. He was re-elected again in 1992
Israeli legislative election, 1992
Elections for the thirteenth Knesset were held in Israel on 23 June 1992. The result was a victory for the left, led by Yitzhak Rabin's Labor Party, though their win was at least partially due to several small right-wing parties narrowly failing to cross the electoral threshold and thus effectively...
and remained a Deputy Speaker until losing his seat in the 1996 elections
Israeli legislative election, 1996
Elections for the fourteenth Knesset were held in Israel on 29 May 1996. Voter turnout was 79.3%.The 1996 elections included two new changes, both designed to increase the stability of the Knesset. First, the Prime Minister was to be elected on a separate ballot from the remaining members of the...
(despite finishing 18th in the Likud primaries, he was assigned an unrealistic place on the party list).
After leaving the Knesset, he was appointed CEO of Oil Refineries Ltd
Oil Refineries Ltd
Oil Refineries Ltd. , located in Haifa Bay, is Israel's largest Oil refinery. Using its state-of-the-art industrial facilities, ORL is capable of refining approximately 9.8 million tons of crude oil per year providing a variety of products used in industrial operation, transportation, private...
by Minister of National Infrastructure
National Infrastructure Minister of Israel
The National Infrastructure Minister of Israel is the political head of the Israeli Ministry of National Infrastructure. From its establishment in 1977 until 1996, the post was known as the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure . The current minister is Uzi Landau of Yisrael Beiteinu.It succeeded...
, Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon is an Israeli statesman and retired general, who served as Israel’s 11th Prime Minister. He has been in a permanent vegetative state since suffering a stroke on 4 January 2006....
. In April 2005 he was appointed CEO of Israel Military Industries
Israel Military Industries
Israel Weapons Industries , formerly the "Magen" division of the Israel Military Industries Ltd. is an Israeli firearms manufacturer. In 2005, the Small Arms Division of IMI was privatized....
by Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz
Shaul Mofaz
Lt. General Shaul Mofaz is an Israeli politician who serves as the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs And Defense Committee at the Knesset...
, but resigned in June 2006. In October that year, he became CEO of the Israel Airports Authority.
In addition to political activities, Eli was also a member of the board of the Jewish Agency for Israel
Jewish Agency for Israel
The Jewish Agency for Israel , also known as the Sochnut or JAFI, served as the organization in charge of immigration and absorption of Jews from the Diaspora into the state of Israel.-History:...
and a member of the Amidar
Amidar (Company)
Amidar is a state-owned housing company in Israel.The company was founded in 1949. Its mission statement is "to be involved in construction projects, development, population and maintenance in Israel"...
housing company's directorate.