Avishai Braverman
Encyclopedia
Avishay Braverman is an Israel
i economist and politician. A former president of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
, he is currently a member of the Knesset
for the Labor Party. Between 2009 and 2011 he served as Minister of Minorities.
and received his PhD in economics from Stanford
. After serving as a senior official in the World Bank
in Washington
, specializing in economic development with an emphasis on social justice
, Braverman returned to Israel to become president of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev for the next sixteen years. He was well regarded in this position and received an award from the city of Be'er Sheva for his work.
In November 2005, Braverman announced his intention to become involved in politics. Despite rumors that he would join Kadima
, in a move viewed as surprising, he ended up joining Labor. He was elected to the Knesset in the 2006 elections. Within the party, he was inititally associated with Amir Peretz
and later with Ami Ayalon
.
Prior to the 2009 elections
he won fourth place on the party's list, retaining his seat in the subsequent election. Braverman opposed the decision of the Labor Party to enter the Netanyahu government in March 2009, but shortly afterwards it was announced that he would be entering the government as Minister without Portfolio, focusing on Minority Affairs, later transformed into the Minister of Minorities. He resigned from the cabinet after Ehud Barak left the Labor Party to establish Independence
in January 2011.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i economist and politician. A former president of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev is a university in Beersheba, Israel, established in 1969. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev has a current enrollment of 17,400 students, and is one of Israel's fastest growing universities....
, he is currently 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 the Labor Party. Between 2009 and 2011 he served as Minister of Minorities.
Biography
Braverman studied statistics and economics in Tel Aviv UniversityTel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University is a public university located in Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel. With nearly 30,000 students, TAU is Israel's largest university.-History:...
and received his PhD in economics from Stanford
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
. After serving as a senior official in the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
in Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, specializing in economic development with an emphasis on social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
, Braverman returned to Israel to become president of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev for the next sixteen years. He was well regarded in this position and received an award from the city of Be'er Sheva for his work.
In November 2005, Braverman announced his intention to become involved in politics. Despite rumors that he would join 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...
, in a move viewed as surprising, he ended up joining Labor. He was elected to the Knesset in the 2006 elections. Within the party, he was inititally associated with Amir Peretz
Amir Peretz
Amir Peretz is an Israeli politician and member of the Knesset for the Labour Party. He is a former Defense Minister of Israel and former leader of the Labour Party, having left those positions in June 2007....
and later with Ami Ayalon
Ami Ayalon
Amihai "Ami" Ayalon is an Israeli politician and a former member of the Knesset for the Labor Party. He was previously head of the Shin Bet, Israel's secret service, and commander-in-chief of the Navy...
.
Prior to 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...
he won fourth place on the party's list, retaining his seat in the subsequent election. Braverman opposed the decision of the Labor Party to enter the Netanyahu government in March 2009, but shortly afterwards it was announced that he would be entering the government as Minister without Portfolio, focusing on Minority Affairs, later transformed into the Minister of Minorities. He resigned from the cabinet after Ehud Barak left the Labor Party to establish Independence
Independence (Israeli political party)
Independence is a recently-established political party in Israel. It was launched by Defense Minister Ehud Barak on 17 January 2011 after he and four other Labour Party MKs announced their secession from the caucus...
in January 2011.