Ofer Shelah
Ofer Shelah (Hebrew: עֹפֶר שֶׁלַח, born 9 February 1960) is an Israeli journalist and politician. He has served as a member of the Knesset for Yesh Atid since 2013.
Ofer Shelah | |
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Date of birth | 9 February 1960 |
Place of birth | Kiryat Bialik, Israel |
Knessets | 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 |
Faction represented in Knesset | |
2013–2019 | Yesh Atid |
2019–2020 | Blue and White |
2020– | Yesh Atid |
Biography
Shelah was born in Kiryat Bialik. He enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces in 1977 as a soldier in the Paratroopers Brigade, and in 1979 became an officer. He served as a platoon leader and as an executive officer in the paratroopers,[1] and took part in various raids against PLO camps in Lebanon. After he was honourably discharged he fought as a platoon leader and as company commander in reserve Paratroopers Brigade[2] in the 1982 Lebanon War and lost an eye in Lebanon in 1983.[3] He later published a book about his experiences, Guf Sheni (Hebrew: Second Person; lit. second body).
Education
Shelah subsequently completed a BA in Economic and English Literature at Tel Aviv University and an MA in Literature and Creative Writing at New York University.[4]
Career
He started working as a journalist for the mainstream daily' 'Maariv in 1988, later moving to its competitor Yedioth Ahronoth, as well as hosting television news and sports programs. As a journalist, Shelah specialized in writing about security issues and on sports.[5]
Political career
Prior to the 2013 Knesset elections Shelah joined the new Yesh Atid party, and was placed sixth on its list.[6] He was elected to the Knesset as the party won 19 seats. During his first time, he was a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee.[4] He was placed sixth on the party's list for the 2015 elections,[7] and was re-elected as the party won 11 seats.
Shelah lives in Moshav Ginaton, and is widowed with two children.[5]
References
- Incoming chief IDF rabbi vows to 'respect all faiths, races and sexual orientations' Israel Hayom, 14 July 2016
- Gal Perl Finkel, Don’t throw out the baby with the bath water, The Jerusalem Post, August 09, 2018.
- How to win a modern war The Jerusalem Post, 7 September 2016
- Ofer Shelah Knesset
- All the kingmaker’s men, and women Times of Israel, 23 January 2013
- Yesh Atid Central Elections Committee
- Yesh Atid list Central Elections Committee
External links
- Ofer Shelah on the Knesset website