Yosef Paritzky
Encyclopedia
Yosef Yitzhak Paritzky is an Israel
i attorney, politician and columnist.
, where he gained an LL.B, and went on to work as an attorney. He is an attorney both in Israel and in New York.
Paritzky was known as a secular liberal who advocated for the separation of state and religion in Israel. He formed an association called "Am Hofshi" ("Free People") and was its chairman. Due to his activities he was offered a seat on the Shinui
list prior to 1999 elections.
After winning a Knesset
seat in the elections, Paritzky served as a member of the finance committee. He was re-elected in 2003 and was appointed Minister of National Infrastructure and Energy
in Ariel Sharon
's government
. Paritzky established the natural gas system in Israel and also led dramatic changes in the electricity and water fields. He was the first to suggest an "Infrastructure Undersea Tunnel" between Turkey
and Israel and gave licenses to the first private power stations in Israel.
However, Paritzky had to leave his position in the Government in July 2004, due to the demand of Tommy Lapid, head of Shinui
, with whom Paritzky had a long and bitter dispute. Tapes of Paritzky were published in which he was heard apparently attempting to catch Avraham Poraz
, the party's deputy leader, in wrongdoings. Paritzky's actions were investigated by the police, but charges were not brought since the police and the Attorney General
found no evidence of any criminal acts.
Shinui, led by Lapid and Poraz, attempted to have Paritzky expelled from the Knesset
and replace him with another Shinui MK. However, the Knesset House Committee refused this attempt and allowed him to retain his seat. Paritzky then announced that he was forming his own party, Tzalash
, and would run in the 2006 elections, saying his goal was for Shinui "not to attain the minimum number of votes needed to get into the Knesset." Although it was possible for the faction to receive 600,000 shekels in electoral funding, Tzalash did not participate in the 2006 elections.
Despite Tzalash's demise, two of Paritzky's goals were realised; Poraz was defeated in Shinui's primary elections in January 2006, with Paritzky saying Poraz and party leader Tommy Lapid "should have been sent home long ago". In addition, in the elections, Poraz's new party, Hetz
, and Shinui both failed to win any seats.
He is married, and has three children.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i attorney, politician and columnist.
Background
Paritzky studied law at the Hebrew University of JerusalemHebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
, where he gained an LL.B, and went on to work as an attorney. He is an attorney both in Israel and in New York.
Paritzky was known as a secular liberal who advocated for the separation of state and religion in Israel. He formed an association called "Am Hofshi" ("Free People") and was its chairman. Due to his activities he was offered a seat on the Shinui
Shinui
Shinui is a Zionist, secular and anti-clerical free market liberal party and political movement in Israel. The party twice became the third largest in the Knesset, but both occasions were followed by a split and collapse; in 1977 the party won 15 seats as part of the Democratic Movement for...
list prior to 1999 elections.
After winning a 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...
seat in the elections, Paritzky served as a member of the finance committee. He was re-elected in 2003 and was appointed Minister of National Infrastructure and Energy
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...
in 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....
's government
Thirtieth government of Israel
The thirtieth government of Israel was formed by Ariel Sharon on 28 February 2003, following Likud's comprehensive victory in the January elections. His coalition initially included Shinui and the National Union, holding 60 of the 120 seats in the Knesset, whilst the two-seat Yisrael BaAliyah...
. Paritzky established the natural gas system in Israel and also led dramatic changes in the electricity and water fields. He was the first to suggest an "Infrastructure Undersea Tunnel" between Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and Israel and gave licenses to the first private power stations in Israel.
However, Paritzky had to leave his position in the Government in July 2004, due to the demand of Tommy Lapid, head of Shinui
Shinui
Shinui is a Zionist, secular and anti-clerical free market liberal party and political movement in Israel. The party twice became the third largest in the Knesset, but both occasions were followed by a split and collapse; in 1977 the party won 15 seats as part of the Democratic Movement for...
, with whom Paritzky had a long and bitter dispute. Tapes of Paritzky were published in which he was heard apparently attempting to catch Avraham Poraz
Avraham Poraz
Avraham Poraz is an Israeli lawyer and former politician.- Biography :Poraz was born in Bucharest, Romania in 1945 and immigrated to Israel in 1950...
, the party's deputy leader, in wrongdoings. Paritzky's actions were investigated by the police, but charges were not brought since the police and the Attorney General
Attorney General of Israel
The Attorney General of Israel stands at the head of the legal system of the executive branch and the head of the public legal establishment, in charge of protecting the rule of law and as such entrusted with protecting the public interest from possible harm by government authorities...
found no evidence of any criminal acts.
Shinui, led by Lapid and Poraz, attempted to have Paritzky expelled from 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...
and replace him with another Shinui MK. However, the Knesset House Committee refused this attempt and allowed him to retain his seat. Paritzky then announced that he was forming his own party, Tzalash
Tzalash
Tzalash was a one-man political faction in Israel.-Background:Tzalash was formed after MK and Infrastructure Minister Yosef Paritzky was expelled from Shinui in July 2004 after he had been caught attempting to shame Shinui's deputy leader Avraham Poraz; he had hired a private investigator to look...
, and would run in the 2006 elections, saying his goal was for Shinui "not to attain the minimum number of votes needed to get into the Knesset." Although it was possible for the faction to receive 600,000 shekels in electoral funding, Tzalash did not participate in the 2006 elections.
Despite Tzalash's demise, two of Paritzky's goals were realised; Poraz was defeated in Shinui's primary elections in January 2006, with Paritzky saying Poraz and party leader Tommy Lapid "should have been sent home long ago". In addition, in the elections, Poraz's new party, Hetz
Hetz (political party)
Hetz was a secularist political party in Israel.-Background and ideology:Hetz was formed in the aftermath of the breakup of Shinui towards the end of the 16th Knesset...
, and Shinui both failed to win any seats.
He is married, and has three children.