Ruhama Avraham
Encyclopedia
Ruhama Avraham Balila is an Israel
i politician. A member of the Knesset
for Kadima
, she has previously served as Minister of Tourism
and Minister without Portfolio
responsible for liaison with the Knesset.
.
She was first elected to the Knesset in 2003, after winning 17th place on the Likud
list. During the party primaries she had tried to encourage the voters to vote for her by opening up a hot dog
stand. In her first term she served as a member of the Finance and Economics Committees, as well as of the Committees for the Advancement of the Status of Women and for Foreign Workers. In March 2005, she was appointed Deputy Minister of the Interior
.
In 2005 she defected to Kadima
, and was re-elected on its list in 2006. Later in the year an investigation into bribery began, after Avraham and Eli Aflalo
accepted a $6,800 trip (plus $4,388 in expenses) from agricultural export firm Agrexco. Following the trip, despite not being a member, Avraham called a special meeting of the Knesset Interior Committee, which covered the large security expenses Agrexco was paying on its exports. In 2008 she was questioned under caution, but later escaped trial due to a lack of evidence. However, Attorney General
Menachem Mazuz
commented that "Avraham's conduct was unworthy, improper, in violation of the Knesset's rules of ethics and bordered on the criminal."
As part of a cabinet reshuffle in July 2007 she was appointed Minister without Portfolio
responsible for liaison with the Knesset. In July 2008 she was appointed Minister of Tourism. She retained her seat in the 2009 elections
after being placed eighth on the Kadima list.
She is a mother of two. She speaks Ladino
and English..
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i politician. 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 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...
, she has previously served as Minister of Tourism
Tourism Minister of Israel
The Tourism Minister of Israel is the political head of the Israeli Ministry of Tourism and a relatively minor position in the Israeli cabinet. The position is currently held by Stas Misezhnikov of Yisrael Beiteinu....
and Minister without Portfolio
Minister without Portfolio
A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister that does not head a particular ministry...
responsible for liaison with the Knesset.
Biography
Avraham was born in Rishon LeZion in 1964. After completing her army service, she received a B.A. in political science from Bar-Ilan UniversityBar-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...
.
She was first elected to the Knesset in 2003, after winning 17th place on the 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...
list. During the party primaries she had tried to encourage the voters to vote for her by opening up a hot dog
Hot dog
A hot dog is a sausage served in a sliced bun. It is very often garnished with mustard, ketchup, onions, mayonnaise, relish and/or sauerkraut.-History:...
stand. In her first term she served as a member of the Finance and Economics Committees, as well as of the Committees for the Advancement of the Status of Women and for Foreign Workers. In March 2005, she was appointed Deputy Minister of the Interior
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 2005 she defected to 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...
, and was re-elected on its list in 2006. Later in the year an investigation into bribery began, after Avraham and Eli Aflalo
Eli Aflalo
Eli Aflalo is an Israeli politician who currently serves as a member of the Knesset for Kadima. Between July 2008 and March 2009 he was the country's Minister of Immigrant Absorption.-Biography:...
accepted a $6,800 trip (plus $4,388 in expenses) from agricultural export firm Agrexco. Following the trip, despite not being a member, Avraham called a special meeting of the Knesset Interior Committee, which covered the large security expenses Agrexco was paying on its exports. In 2008 she was questioned under caution, but later escaped trial due to a lack of evidence. However, 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...
Menachem Mazuz
Menachem Mazuz
Menachem Mazuz is an Israeli jurist, who served as the Israeli Attorney General in the years 2004-2010. Mazuz was born in Djerba, Tunisia, the fourth in a family of nine children of the rabbi of one of the island's Jewish communities...
commented that "Avraham's conduct was unworthy, improper, in violation of the Knesset's rules of ethics and bordered on the criminal."
As part of a cabinet reshuffle in July 2007 she was appointed Minister without Portfolio
Minister without Portfolio
A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister that does not head a particular ministry...
responsible for liaison with the Knesset. In July 2008 she was appointed Minister of Tourism. She retained her 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...
after being placed eighth on the Kadima list.
She is a mother of two. She speaks Ladino
Ladino
Ladino may refer to:*Ladino is the name used primarily in Israel for Judaeo-Spanish, a Sephardic language, primarily spoken among Sephardic Jews, or for the written form used in religious texts and translations; compare to Ashkenazic Jews' language, Yiddish*Ladino is also used for the variety of...
and English..
External links
- Ruhama Avraham Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs website