Eliyahu Gabai
Encyclopedia
Eliyahu "Eli" Gabai is an Israel
i former politician. He served as a member of the Knesset
for the National Religious Party
from 1996 until 1999, and again from 2006 until 2009.
, Iraq
and emigrated with his family in 1951. They settled in Pardes Hanna and he studied at the Mikveh Israel
agricultural school. He later served with the IDF
and studied at Kfar HaRoeh
's Bnei Akiva
teachers seminary. Gabai went on to gain a BA in educational administration and political science at Bar-Ilan University
and began his MA studies in public administration.
He began working as a teacher in Ashkelon
in 1971, and by 1992 had held the posts of headteacher in Jerusalem, head of the education and culture division of Mevaseret Zion
local council, national supervisor for welfare in the national-religious education division with the Ministry of Education
, and also becoming director general of an organization for communal education within the Ministry.
In 1993, Gabai entered politics and was nominated for Jerusalem's city council. He served as Chairman of the Education Committee and a member of the municipality's executive in charge of tourism and industry. In 1996 he was appointed mayor of Lakiya
local council for a year the Minister of Internal Affairs
. In 1997 he returned to his posts in Jerusalem, and was appointed Deputy Mayor, holding the portfolios for civil engineering and public transport.
He was on the National Religious Party list for the 1996 elections
, but failed to win a seat. However, he entered the Knesset on 20 January 1998 as a replacement for the deceased Zevulun Hammer
. He lost his seat in the 1999 elections, but returned to the Knesset after the 2006 elections. He lost his seat again in the 2009 elections
.
In 1982 He founded Hibba: The Israeli Heritage Movement which is currently chaired by Yonah Betzaleli. Since its founding, Hibba has been a leader in strengthening Jewish identity through educational, social and cultural programming. Hibba has been a Birthright provider since 2002 and has brought thousands of young Jews to Israel. The Hibba Center, located in the heart of Jerusalem, will be the hub of Hibba's extended programming, which will touch Jews of all ages around the world.
Gabai is married and a father of three. His son, Yair, is a member of Jerusalem city council.
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. He 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 the National Religious Party
National Religious Party
The National Religious Party ) was a political party in Israel representing the religious Zionist movement. Formed in 1956, at the time of its dissolution in 2008, it was the second oldest surviving party in the country after Agudat Yisrael, and was part of every government coalition until 1992...
from 1996 until 1999, and again from 2006 until 2009.
Biography
Gabai was born in BaghdadBaghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and emigrated with his family in 1951. They settled in Pardes Hanna and he studied at the Mikveh Israel
Mikveh Israel
The name Mikveh Israel may refer to:* Mikveh Israel, agricultural school and village in Israel* Congregation Mikveh Israel, Philadelphia, United States* Congregation Mickve Israel, Savannah, Georgia, United States...
agricultural school. He later served with 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...
and studied at Kfar HaRoeh
Kfar Haroeh
Kfar Haroeh is a religious moshav in central Israel. Located in the coastal plain between Hadera and Netanya, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2007 it had a population of 1,500....
's Bnei Akiva
Bnei Akiva
Bnei Akiva is the largest religious Zionist youth movement in the world, with over 125,000 members in 37 countries. It was established in Mandate Palestine in 1929.-History:...
teachers seminary. Gabai went on to gain a BA in educational administration and political science at Bar-Ilan University
Bar-Ilan University
Bar-Ilan University is a university in Ramat Gan of the Tel Aviv District, Israel.Established in 1955, Bar Ilan is now Israel's second-largest academic institution. It has nearly 26,800 students and 1,350 faculty members...
and began his MA studies in public administration.
He began working as a teacher in 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...
in 1971, and by 1992 had held the posts of headteacher in Jerusalem, head of the education and culture division of Mevaseret Zion
Mevaseret Zion
Mevaseret Zion is a suburb of Jerusalem, Israel. Mevaseret Zion is composed of two distinct townships, Maoz Zion and Mevaseret Yerushalayim—under the jurisdiction of one local council. The newer neighborhoods of Mevaseret Zion were not part of either settlement.Mevaseret Zion is located on a...
local council, national supervisor for welfare in the national-religious education division with the Ministry of Education
Ministry of Education (Israel)
The Israeli Ministry of Education is the branch of government charged with overseeing public education institutions in Israel. The political head of the department is the Minster of Education, currently Gideon Sa'ar....
, and also becoming director general of an organization for communal education within the Ministry.
In 1993, Gabai entered politics and was nominated for Jerusalem's city council. He served as Chairman of the Education Committee and a member of the municipality's executive in charge of tourism and industry. In 1996 he was appointed mayor of Lakiya
Lakiya
Lakiya, or Laqye is a Bedouin town in the Southern District of Israel.According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics , the population of Lakiya was 7,600 in December 2004...
local council for a year the Minister of Internal Affairs
Internal Affairs Minister of Israel
The Interior Minister , also known as the Minister of Internal Affairs is head of the Israeli Ministry of Interior and an important portfolio in the cabinet. The current Interior Minister is Eli Yishai of Shas...
. In 1997 he returned to his posts in Jerusalem, and was appointed Deputy Mayor, holding the portfolios for civil engineering and public transport.
He was on the National Religious Party list for 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...
, but failed to win a seat. However, he entered the Knesset on 20 January 1998 as a replacement for the deceased Zevulun Hammer
Zevulun Hammer
Zevulun Hammer was an Israeli politician, minister and Deputy Prime Minister.-Biography:Hammer was born in Haifa during the British Mandate of Palestine. He was an active member of the Bnei Akiva youth movement , and served in the Israeli Armored Corps in a Nahal programme...
. He lost his seat in the 1999 elections, but returned to the Knesset after the 2006 elections. He lost his seat again 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...
.
In 1982 He founded Hibba: The Israeli Heritage Movement which is currently chaired by Yonah Betzaleli. Since its founding, Hibba has been a leader in strengthening Jewish identity through educational, social and cultural programming. Hibba has been a Birthright provider since 2002 and has brought thousands of young Jews to Israel. The Hibba Center, located in the heart of Jerusalem, will be the hub of Hibba's extended programming, which will touch Jews of all ages around the world.
Gabai is married and a father of three. His son, Yair, is a member of Jerusalem city council.