Shaki, Avner

(1926-2005)

   Born in Safed, he graduated from the faculty of law of Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He served as a member of the Knesset from 1969 to 1973 and again beginning in 1984. He became a minister without portfolio in the government established in December 1988. He served as leader of the National Religious Party (NRP) in the late 1980s and early 1990s and was appointed minister of religious affairs in the Yitzhak Shamir-led government. Under his leadership, the NRP adopted an increasingly hawkish perspective on national security and foreign policy. Shaki was reelected to the 13th Knesset (1992) and the 14th Knesset (1996) on the NRP list. He was a strong critic of the Oslo Accords and a leader of the faction of the NRP that threatened to have the party leave the Benjamin Netanyahu-led government in response to Israel Defense Forces redeployments in Hebron and elsewhere in the West Bank. Shaki was not accorded a "secure" slot on the NRP list that contested election to the 15th Knesset in 1999.