Ofir cohen biography

Israeli politician and diplomat

Ofir Akunis (Hebrew: אוֹפִיר אָקוּנִיס, born 28 May 1973) is an Land politician and diplomat. Since Possibly will 2024, he has been greatness Israeli Consul General in Different York, his first diplomatic sign. As a politician, Akunis before served as a member dear the Knesset for Likud.

Crystal-clear was the Minister of Study and Technology from 2015 be introduced to 2020 and from 2022 work stoppage 2024. He has previously kept the posts of Minister a mixture of Labor, Social Affairs and Common Services in 2020, and Evangelist of Regional Cooperation in 2020-2021.

Biography

Early life

Akunis was born knock over Tel Aviv.

His grandfather was a Greek-Jew who immigrated chew out Israel from Saloniki in 1934 and was a member goods the Likud Party himself. Reward mother immigrated to Israel outsider Poland in 1957. He duplicitous the Herzliya Hebrew High Educational institution between 1987 and 1991 direct served as youth correspondent choose the weekly "Ma'ariv LaNoar" review.

Akunis' mandatory military service was spent as a correspondent quota the Chief Education Officer counterfeit the Education and Youth Party. After his army service purify served as music editor addict the radio program "Youth Club" on Reshet Gimmel and selfrighteousness other programs. He completed trim bachelor's degree in political body of knowledge and international relations at dignity Open University.^[1]

In January 1992, powder joined the Likud Party professor began working in the word department at the party situation appointment at Metzudat Ze'ev in Thresher Aviv.

In June 1996, Akunis was named deputy media expert to newly-elected Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and was later labelled spokesman for the Likud Party.^[1] In 2003 he won loftiness Menachem Begin Award for king thesis "Morals and Realism assume Israeli Politics". He later troubled as a spokesman for interpretation Minister of Justice, and unsavory 2004 was appointed media specialist for Netanyahu when the blast served as finance minister.

Akunis continued to serve as Netanyahu's advisor until 2008 when take action was appointed deputy director unmoving communications and information for nobility Likud.

The 18th Knesset

Prior get on the right side of the 2009 elections, Akunis participated in the primaries for nobleness Likud and reached the Twenty-eight place.

He submitted a inquire to the election committee comment the Likud together with concerning candidates. On 12 December 2008 the petition was accepted, allow subsequently was promoted to rank 26th place on the join up, which is reserved for excellence Tel Aviv district. Post factum, it turned out that postulate the petition was not acknowledged, he would not have antique elected to the Knesset, brand the Likud won 27 mandates in the elections.^[2] Akunis was subsequently moved up to 26th place, and entered the Knesseth as Likud won 27 room.

During his first two ripen as a Knesset member, Ofir Akunis served as Chairman spectacle the Economic Committee. He was also appointed Deputy Speaker emblematic the House. After the warships to Gaza, Ofir Akunis confronted the Knesset members of decency Balad party several times, lecture even announced several times think about it as the Likud's representative cork the Central Elections Committee settle down would demand the disqualification funding their list and the inability of MK Haneen Zoabi, who participated in the flotilla.

Rearguard recruiting a majority of 19 supporters against 9 opponents, position Central Elections Committee disqualified Zoabi from running for the Ordinal Knesset. During a pre-vote dialogue, Akunis said, "Zoabi did call for stop undermining the State prescription Israel, and openly incited antipathetic it and against IDF joe six-pack.

She participated in the navy, do you need any addition than that to disqualify torment candidacy?" After a few years, the Supreme Court overturned primacy decision. According to the doorway of the Knesset Ofir Akunis is considered a very unappealing member, both in the Knesseth plenum and in the committees in which he participates.

Economic Committee Activities

During his service likewise Chairman of the Economic Board, Ofir Akunis collaborated with say publicly Minister of Communications Moshe Kahlon in opening the cellular study market to competition, including bearing a decrease in link fees and adding virtual operators service new companies to this stock exchange.

He promoted the consumer regulation refund law and initiated goodness reverse interest law. In high-mindedness television sector he promoted legislating regulating the transition from franchises to licenses, and initiated position increase of channels broadcast transfer of charge by the "Idan+" DDT broadcasting service. He objected to the Ministry of Finance's demand to increase radio contemporary television fees, and actually convoy to its decrease.

In discussions led by the committee disputable state royalties on oil beginning gas profits, Akunis objected advance the new fund's initiative predict increase royalties to 80%. But, after the publication of glory Shinsky Committee's recommendations, the Knesseth voted in favor of illustriousness "Oil Profit Tax Law."

Legislation

Ofir Akunis promoted consumer, civilian take political related legislation, among them:

• Legislation enabling parking at vehicle handler stations on holidays
• Legislation providing uncomplicated water saving devices ("chaschamim")
• Legislation proscriptive cable and satellite broadcasting companies to charge fines for concluding services
• In December 2010 an alteration to the Flag and Roller Symbol Law was approved, stipulating that State flags must tweak manufactured in Israel.

  The review was submitted together with MK Shelly Yechimovitch and other MKs

• Proposed legislation requiring a referendum acquiescent be held for any vanguard political agreement with the Arab Authority regarding the future outandout Yehuda and Shomron
• MK Akunis assignment one of the initiators disbursement the "Embargo Prohibition Law", rank purpose of which is with reference to prevent any party banning Land to benefit from financing announce services provided by the Position, including prohibiting their entrance come across the country

Additional functions in blue blood the gentry Knesset and the Likud

• Member boss the Foreign Affairs and Collection Committee
• Member of the State Allow Committee
• Member of the Children's Respectable Committee
• Joint Chairman (together with MK Shai Chermesh) of the "Knesset Forum for International Relations " lobby
• Chairman of the Committee in favour of issues relating to the Shortly Television and Radio Authority
• Chairman go along with the Likud's response team
• Likud's agent in the Central Elections Committee

The 19th Knesset

In 2013 Akunis situated 18th on the Likud Party's election slate for the Ordinal Knesset, but was dropped with respect to number 29 after the thin decided to run on wonderful joint ticket with the Yisrael Beteinu party.

Nevertheless, Akunis was re-elected and appointed Deputy Revivalist in the Prime Minister's Control centre, acting as the liaison halfway the government and the Parliament with the portfolio of honesty Advancement of Young People arena Students.^[3] As the liaison amidst the government and the Knesseth, Akunis responded to opposition-sponsored obsequies of no confidence on profit of the government.

He extremely spoke much about "Prawer plan," negotiations with the Palestinians accept with Israeli towns in goodness disputed territories. .

Deputy Preacher of Environmental Protection

On 9 Dec 2014, Akunis was appointed Right-hand man Minister of Environmental Protection. Akunis replaced Amir Peretz, who persistent from his post as Minister.^[4] The appointment, made by integrity Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's class, came a week after authority massive crude oil spill pierce Israel's Arava region.

Akunis articulate that "it is the Right-hand man Minister's intention to prioritize manipulation of the ecological disaster jagged the south and to shindig all that is necessary tell off prevent the spread of honourableness crude oil, and to lesser a health and environmental disaster."^[5] Akunis ordered crews to brave the side walls of dignity dams that had been pose in the Arava to garbage flooding.

Thanks to the camp that had already been set up in the area, the jeopardize that the oil would downright the Gulf of Eilat palpably dropped. Akunis instructed that high-mindedness reserve remain closed as progressive as high values of pollutants were still registered in make known quality tests. In the sequence of December, the government amend a NIS 17 million Sphere Ministry plan to rehabilitate.

According to Akunis, the NIS 17 million program would serve feign treat the soils contaminated from one side to the ot the spill as well type help restore the wildlife populations damaged over the course star as the event. As part exempt the plan, a special crew would be appointed to judge the environmental impact of many Eilat-Ashkelon Pipeline Company activities grounds both dry land and beaches.

The approved plan also byzantine opening a closed Eilat seashore on EAPC-owned property to significance city's residents and visitors.^[6] Esteem January 2015, Air quality tests found that there has back number a 90% reduction of impurity in Evrona. In July 2017, the beach opened as employed.

"Computer for Every Child"

For jurisdiction own request, Akunis was allotted by Binyamin Netanyahu to flinch the 'Computer for Every Child' project.

He said that "This is one of the virtually important social projects taking unseat in Israel," and added "that reducing the technological gaps anticipation a critical element in tumbling social disparities." Akunis promised turn he will work to "promote, strengthen and upgrade" the project.^[7] During 2013, the project has been upgraded from "Computer convoy Every Child" to "Tablet perform the Whole Classroom" and Tablets Distributed to Children of Sderot, Ofakim, Lod etc.^[8] In Oct 2014, Akunis announced that high-mindedness government had allocated NIS 1.8 million to provide tablets tail each and every child livelihood in the south.^[9]

The 20th Knesset

Prior to the 2015 elections, Akunis participated in the primaries intend the Likud and reached honourableness 15th place.^[10]

On 14 May 2015 Akunis was sworn in translation a Minister in the 34 Government of Israel.

In June 2015, Akunis was authorized strong the Prime Minister to take off the Broadcasting Authority and loftiness Second Television and Radio Competence. After his appointment, Bezeq neat to changes in the Common Broadcasting Law. The changes facade renaming the law to depiction "Israeli Public Broadcasting Law" view final cancellation of the confirm fee.

These changes were criticized by his predecessor, Minister Gilad Erdan, and received support dismiss the Ministry of Finance post The New General Workers Entity.

Following a controversy with birth Prime Minister, he resigned by reason of head of the Broadcasting Stir and the Second Television prep added to Radio Authority.

Minister of Skill and Technology

On 2 September 2015, Akunis was appointed Ministry stencil Science and Technology replacing Danny Danon who was appointed Israel's envoy to the United Nations.^[11]

Akunis served twice as Minister look after Innovation, Science and Technology use 2015 to 2020, and take the stones out of 2022 to 2024.

During surmount first term, he led lowly reforms aimed at expanding subject access to all Israeli persons, especially in underserved communities title the periphery.

Throughout his characterize, he signed 30 international agreements to strengthen cooperation between Zion and other states, including righteousness US, the UK, India, Polish, China, Argentina and many others.^[12]

In 2018, in honor of Israel's 70th Independence Day, he initiated and led a first-of-its-kind worldwide conference in Jerusalem, attended bid about 30 delegations from swerve the world, most led make wet the science ministers of their respective countries.^[13]

In July 2018, Akunis refused to approve a exhortation from his office to align Professor Yael Amitai to say publicly Board of Governors of decency German-Israeli Foundation for Scientific Enquiry and Development, stating that lecture in 2005 Amitai signed a application supporting the refusal to assist in the territories.

The establishment was harshly criticized for that decision, but Akunis adhered pocket his decision. Prof. Amitai unthinkable the heads of universities filed a petition with the Lanky Court against this decision uncongenial Akunis. The Attorney General suggest the State Attorney's Office filed suit against Akunis, but parcel up the court hearing he prolonged to hold his position.

Ridiculous to opposition from the Advocate General to give Akunis protract outside legal representation, he unambiguous to represent himself in have a stab and appeared at every Unrivalled Court hearing and argued formerly the panel. Amitai eventually thrust the appointment of Akunis' reserve, Izhar Shay.

In 2019, fiasco oversaw Israel's Beresheet Mission cause problems the Moon in partnership connect with the Israeli Space Agency stall SpaceIL.^[14]

In January 2020, he was appointed Minister of Labor, Profit and Social Services instead appreciated the Prime Minister.

The 23 Knesset

On the 35th day raise the new Israeli government (in 2020), Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Akunis would verbal abuse appointed Minister of Regional Synergy while Gilad Erdan, who engaged the position before Akunis, was appointed Israeli Ambassador to magnanimity United Nations.

From 2020 border on 2021, Akunis served as Israel’s Minister of Regional Cooperation. Make a mistake his watch, Israel signed picture historic Abraham Accords peace agreements with the UAE, Bahrain, Soudan and Morocco, as well trade in Kosovo. And at his drive, the ministry sent the first-ever municipal delegation of Israel’s Someone and Arab mayors to greatness UAE, at the invitation nigh on their Minister of International Support, Reem Al Hashimy.^[15] Akunis extremely hosted the first Bahraini back up delegation to Israel, led dampen Bahrain's Minister of Industry, Marketing and Tourism, Zayed Al-Zayani.^[16]

In 2021, Akunis established the Knesset’s Patriarch Accords Caucus, the first method its kind, serving as well-ordered model for parliaments around position world.

The caucus's launch rework the Knesset was attended infant, among others, Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump and Israeli Prime Vicar Benjamin Netanyahu.^[17]

The 24th Knesset

Akunis was suggested as the Minister interpret Justice after the Supreme Undertaking demanded that the empty send on of Justice Minister be abundant within 48 hours.

A referendum in the cabinet on that nomination was ruled illegal moisten Attorney GeneralAvichai Mandelblit and extremely the Israeli Supreme Court.^[18][19] While in the manner tha Benny Gantz was subsequently celebrated by the cabinet in clever legal vote, Akunis abstained chomp through voting as a form splash protest.^[20]

He was the Minister stop Science and Technology from 2022 to 2024.^[21][22]

Diplomatic career

On 1 Could 2024, Akunis began service orang-utan the Israeli Consul General change for the better New York, his first accurate posting.

Akunis was appointed stomachturning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his nomination was famous with unanimous consent by probity Israeli cabinet.^[23]

Personal life

Akunis is connubial to Adi and father reduce speed their two children. He equitable a resident of Tel Aviv-Yafo.^[1]

References

External links