Gilad Erdan
Encyclopedia
Gilad Menashe Erdan is an Israel
i politician who currently serves as a member of the Knesset
for Likud
and as the country's Minister of Environmental Protection
. He is currently the chairman of the Likud Youth.
, Erdan was a Lieutenant in the IDF
. After finishing his military service
, he studied Law at Bar-Ilan University
, gaining an LL.B
, and started working as an attorney.
Becoming involved in politics, Erdan worked as an advisor to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, and was director of the Department for Public Petitions to the Prime Minister's office between 1996 and 1998. He also worked as an advisor to Likud MK Ariel Sharon
in the 1990s.
Erdan was first elected to the Knesset in the 2003 elections. He retained his seat in the 2006 elections despite Likud's collapse from 40 to 12 seats, after winning fourth place on the list in the party's primaries). In the party primaries held on 8 December 2008, he won third place on the list, and was subsequently re-elected in 2009
. He was appointed Minister of Environmental Protection, and the Minister in charge of coordinating between the Cabinet and the Knesset in the Netanyahu cabinet. Upon the government taking office in 2009, he expressed support for Avigdor Lieberman's speech opposing the Annapolis Conference
and international pressure. He commented that "Israel does not take orders from Obama" and that "citizens of Israel have decided that they will not become the fifty first US state".
In the Knesset, Erdan has openly supported boosting ties between Israel and Evangelical Christians
, as well as presenting bills to enforce no-smoking laws, permanently revoking the driving licenses of serial traffic offenders, and allowing the courts to revoke citizenship for "disloyalty to the state". Prior to submitting the latter bill, Erdan was involved in a spat with Israeli Arab
MK Azmi Bishara
; during a meeting of the Knesset Law and Constitution Committee to discuss a similar proposal by NRP
MK Zevulun Orlev
Erdan interrupted a Bishara speech by shouting "Why don't you just go back to Syria
?" in reference to Bishara's trip there the previous summer. Bishara responded by saying "Why don't you just go fuck yourself?", before being removed by security. Azmi Bishara later resigned from the Knesset after a police investigation opened on him on suspicion that he had given terrorists information about the IDF during the 2006 Lebanon War. Azmi Bishara ran away from Israel in order to avoid arrest, he is currently living in Egypt. He is still wanted by Israel for treason.
Outside the Knesset, Erdan is chairman of Al Sam, an organisation dealing with drug issues (he also serves on the Knesset's Committee on Drug Abuse), and also established the Lobby for Soldiers Missing in Action, of which he remains chairman. Erdan is also a member of the Israel Broadcasting Authority
's General Assembly.
Erdan lives in Ashkelon
and is married with two children.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i politician who currently serves 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 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...
and as the country's Minister of Environmental Protection
Environmental Protection Minister of Israel
The Environmental Protection Minister of Israel is the political head of the Israeli Ministry of Environment and a relatively minor position in the Israeli cabinet. The post was created on 22 December 1988, and until May 2006 was known as the Minister of the Environment...
. He is currently the chairman of the Likud Youth.
Biography
Born in AshkelonAshkelon
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...
, Erdan was a Lieutenant in 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...
. After finishing his military service
Military service
Military service, in its simplest sense, is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, whether as a chosen job or as a result of an involuntary draft . Some nations require a specific amount of military service from every citizen...
, he studied Law 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...
, gaining an LL.B
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
, and started working as an attorney.
Becoming involved in politics, Erdan worked as an advisor to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, and was director of the Department for Public Petitions to the Prime Minister's office between 1996 and 1998. He also worked as an advisor to Likud MK Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon is an Israeli statesman and retired general, who served as Israel’s 11th Prime Minister. He has been in a permanent vegetative state since suffering a stroke on 4 January 2006....
in the 1990s.
Erdan was first elected to the Knesset in the 2003 elections. He retained his seat in the 2006 elections despite Likud's collapse from 40 to 12 seats, after winning fourth place on the list in the party's primaries). In the party primaries held on 8 December 2008, he won third place on the list, and was subsequently re-elected in 2009
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 was appointed Minister of Environmental Protection, and the Minister in charge of coordinating between the Cabinet and the Knesset in the Netanyahu cabinet. Upon the government taking office in 2009, he expressed support for Avigdor Lieberman's speech opposing the Annapolis Conference
Annapolis Conference
-Attendees:U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice organized and hosted the conference. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and U.S. President George W. Bush attended the meeting...
and international pressure. He commented that "Israel does not take orders from Obama" and that "citizens of Israel have decided that they will not become the fifty first US state".
In the Knesset, Erdan has openly supported boosting ties between Israel and Evangelical Christians
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
, as well as presenting bills to enforce no-smoking laws, permanently revoking the driving licenses of serial traffic offenders, and allowing the courts to revoke citizenship for "disloyalty to the state". Prior to submitting the latter bill, Erdan was involved in a spat with Israeli Arab
Arab citizens of Israel
Arab citizens of Israel refers to citizens of Israel who are not Jewish, and whose cultural and linguistic heritage or ethnic identity is Arab....
MK Azmi Bishara
Azmi Bishara
Azmi Bishara , a former member of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, is a Palestinian intellectual, academic, politician, and writer.In 2007, Bishara fled Israel and resigned from the Knesset after being questioned by police on suspicion of aiding and passing information to the enemy during...
; during a meeting of the Knesset Law and Constitution Committee to discuss a similar proposal by NRP
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...
MK Zevulun Orlev
Zevulun Orlev
Zevulun Orlev is an Israeli politician and a former leader of the National Religious Party. He was Minister of Welfare & Social Services , and is currently a Member of the Knesset for the The Jewish Home party...
Erdan interrupted a Bishara speech by shouting "Why don't you just go back to Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
?" in reference to Bishara's trip there the previous summer. Bishara responded by saying "Why don't you just go fuck yourself?", before being removed by security. Azmi Bishara later resigned from the Knesset after a police investigation opened on him on suspicion that he had given terrorists information about the IDF during the 2006 Lebanon War. Azmi Bishara ran away from Israel in order to avoid arrest, he is currently living in Egypt. He is still wanted by Israel for treason.
Outside the Knesset, Erdan is chairman of Al Sam, an organisation dealing with drug issues (he also serves on the Knesset's Committee on Drug Abuse), and also established the Lobby for Soldiers Missing in Action, of which he remains chairman. Erdan is also a member of the Israel Broadcasting Authority
Israel Broadcasting Authority
Israel Broadcasting Authority is Israel's state broadcasting network.It grew out of the radio station Kol Yisrael, which made its first broadcast as an independent station on . The name of the organisation operating Kol Yisrael was changed to Israel Broadcasting Service in 1951...
's General Assembly.
Erdan lives 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...
and is married with two children.