Ze'ev Boim
Encyclopedia
Ze'ev Boim was an Israel
i politician. He was the mayor of Kiryat Gat before becoming a Knesset
member for Likud
and later Kadima
. Boim was Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
, Minister of Housing and Construction
and Minister of Immigrant Absorption
.
Armored Corps. He earned a BA in History and Hebrew literature
from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
.
Boim was the principal of the Rogozin comprehensive High School in Kiryat Gat.
He served as mayor of Kiryat Gat, as well as Chairman of the Municipal Environmental Quality Association of Ashkelon
District; Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Economic Company of Kiryat Gat; and Chairman of the Directorate of the Inter Regional Industrial Park of Kiryat Gat and Hevel Lakhish
.
Boim was married with four children. His son Amir died while serving the IDF
. He died of cancer in March of 2011 at Froedtert Hospital
in Milwaukee.
Lobby, and head of the Knesset Delegation to the Annual Dialogue between Israel
and the European Parliament
during his first term. After being re-elected in 1999, he served as coalition and Likud faction chairman.
He was re-elected again in 2003 and served as Deputy Minister of Defense from March 2003 until January 2006. In 2005 he defected to the new Kadima
party while still retaining his ministerial position. In January 2006 he became Minister of Housing and Construction and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, serving in both positions until May. He was re-elected in 2006, and was then appointed Minister of Immigrant Absorption, before returning to the Housing and Construction portfolio in 2007. Placed sixth on Kadima's list, he retained his seat in the 2009 elections
.
leader MK Rabbi Michael Melchior
, who said that Boim's comment was racist and against the tenets of Judaism. He later apologized for his remarks, saying he was speaking after a recent Palestinian attack and was overwhelmed by the scope of the bloodshed at the time.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i politician. He was the mayor of Kiryat Gat before becoming 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...
member 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...
and later Kadima
Kadima
Kadima is a centrist and liberal political party in Israel. It was established on 24 November 2005 by moderates from Likud largely to support the issue of Ariel Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan, and was soon joined by like-minded Labor politicians...
. Boim was Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
Agriculture Minister of Israel
The Agriculture Minister of Israel is the political head of the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture and a relatively minor position in the Israeli cabinet. Since 1992 the full title of the position has been the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development , the Development Ministry having been...
, Minister of Housing and Construction
Housing and Construction Minister of Israel
The Ministry of Housing and Construction is a portfolio in the Israeli cabinet. The ministry was created in 1961, and until 1977 it was known as the Ministry of Housing. Construction was also previously part of the Labour and Construction ministry during the provisional government between 1948 and...
and Minister of Immigrant Absorption
Immigrant Absorption Minister of Israel
The Ministry of Immigrant Absorption of Israel , known until 1951 as the Ministry of Immigration , a ministry in the Israeli government.In co-ordination with local authorities, the Ministry is responsible for new immigrants for three weeks after they arrive...
.
Biography
Ze'ev Boim was born in Jerusalem during the British Mandate era. He served as a company commander in the Israel Defense ForcesIsrael 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...
Armored Corps. He earned a BA in History and Hebrew literature
Hebrew literature
Hebrew literature consists of ancient, medieval, and modern writings in the Hebrew language. It is one of the primary forms of Jewish literature, though there have been cases of literature written in Hebrew by non-Jews...
from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew 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...
.
Boim was the principal of the Rogozin comprehensive High School in Kiryat Gat.
He served as mayor of Kiryat Gat, as well as Chairman of the Municipal Environmental Quality Association of Ashkelon
Ashkelon
Ashkelon is a coastal city in the South District of Israel on the Mediterranean coast, south of Tel Aviv, and north of the border with the Gaza Strip. The ancient seaport of Ashkelon dates back to the Neolithic Age...
District; Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Economic Company of Kiryat Gat; and Chairman of the Directorate of the Inter Regional Industrial Park of Kiryat Gat and Hevel Lakhish
Hevel Lakhish
Hevel Lakhish is an area of south-central Israel. Part of the southern Shephelah, it is located between the Judean Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea and is named after the Biblical city of Lachish....
.
Boim was married with four children. His son Amir died while serving the IDF
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...
. He died of cancer in March of 2011 at Froedtert Hospital
Froedtert Hospital
Froedtert Hospital, , located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a teaching hospital and an ACS verified Level I adult trauma center, one of two such facilities in Wisconsin. Froedtert is the primary teaching affiliate of the Medical College of Wisconsin , where MCW students and residents receive their...
in Milwaukee.
Political career
In 1996, Boim was elected to the Knesset on the Likud list, serving as the party's whip, head of the NegevNegev
The Negev is a desert and semidesert region of southern Israel. The Arabs, including the native Bedouin population of the region, refer to the desert as al-Naqab. The origin of the word Neghebh is from the Hebrew root denoting 'dry'...
Lobby, and head of the Knesset Delegation to the Annual Dialogue between Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
during his first term. After being re-elected in 1999, he served as coalition and Likud faction chairman.
He was re-elected again in 2003 and served as Deputy Minister of Defense from March 2003 until January 2006. In 2005 he defected to the new Kadima
Kadima
Kadima is a centrist and liberal political party in Israel. It was established on 24 November 2005 by moderates from Likud largely to support the issue of Ariel Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan, and was soon joined by like-minded Labor politicians...
party while still retaining his ministerial position. In January 2006 he became Minister of Housing and Construction and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, serving in both positions until May. He was re-elected in 2006, and was then appointed Minister of Immigrant Absorption, before returning to the Housing and Construction portfolio in 2007. Placed sixth on Kadima's list, he retained his seat in the 2009 elections
Israeli legislative election, 2009
Elections for the 18th Knesset were held in Israel on 10 February 2009. These elections became necessary due to the resignation of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as leader of the Kadima party, and the failure of his successor, Tzipi Livni, to form a coalition government...
.
Controversy
In 2004, responding to a question about terrorism and Islamic political violence, Boim remarked: "What is it about Islam as a whole and the Palestinians in particular? Is it some form of cultural deprivation? Is it some genetic defect? There is something that defies explanation in this continued murderousness." He was criticized for this statement by many members of the government, among them MeimadMeimad
Meimad is a left-wing religious Zionist political party in Israel. Founded in 1999, it is based on the ideology of the Meimad movement founded in 1988 by Rabbi Yehuda Amital. At the national level, it was in alliance with the Labour Party, and until the 2006 elections, received 10th spot on the...
leader MK Rabbi Michael Melchior
Michael Melchior
A renowned Jewish leader, thinker and activist, Rabbi Michael Melchior is a leading advocate for social justice in Israel, quality education for all, Jewish-Arab reconciliation and co-existence, protection of the environment, Israel-Diaspora relations and the strengthening of Civic Society as a...
, who said that Boim's comment was racist and against the tenets of Judaism. He later apologized for his remarks, saying he was speaking after a recent Palestinian attack and was overwhelmed by the scope of the bloodshed at the time.
External links
- Ze'ev Boim Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs website