Yishai, Eliyahu ((Eli)

(1963- )

   Born in Jerusalem. Following service in the Israel Defense Forces, he served as head of the office of the interior minister. He was a member of the Jerusalem city council in 1987-88. Later, he became the acting secretary general of the Sephardi Torah Guardian (SHAS) Party (1990-96) and also director general of SHAS's El Hama'ayan network of educational and social services (1994-96). First elected to the 14th Knesset on the SHAS list in 1996, he served as minister of labor and social affairs in the coalition headed by Benjamin Netanyahu (1996-99). Reelected to the 15th Knesset (1999), he was reappointed minister of labor and social affairs in the government headed by Ehud Barak and served in this position until SHAS's departure from the government in July 2000. From February 2001 to February 2003, Yishai served as interior minister and deputy prime minister in Israel's 30th government under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. In the 2006 Knesset election, he headed SHAS's election list and was reelected to the Knesset. In May 2006, Yishai was appointed deputy prime minister and minister of industry, trade, and labor in Israel's 31st government under Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

   See also Oriental Jews; Political parties; Religion.