Avi Yemini
Avi Yemini | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 October 1985 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Other names | Avraham Waks[3] |
| Citizenship | |
| Education | Yeshivah College, Melbourne[3] |
| Occupations |
|
| Employer | Rebel News (since 2020) |
| Political party | Liberty Alliance (2018–2019)[3][4] |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  Israel |
| Service |  Israel Defense Forces |
| Years of service | 2004–2007 |
| Unit | Golani Brigade |
| This article is part of a series on |
| Conservatism in Australia |
|---|
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Avraham Shalom Yemini (born 17 October 1985) is an Australian-Israeli conservative political activist, commentator and internet personality. He has worked for Rebel News since 2020, and currently works as its Australian Bureau Chief.[5]
Biography
Yemini was born in Melbourne in the Australian state of Victoria and grew up in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda East.[3] He is one of seventeen children.[3]
IDF service
Yemini served with the Golani Brigade in the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) from 2005 until 2008. Most of his active duty was spent in the Gaza Strip.[5][6]
Return to Australia
After returning to Australia, Yemini opened his first IDF gym in Caulfield, Victoria followed by a second in Melbourne's CBD in 2016.[7][8] In 2018, the gyms were sold to a private buyer.
One of his brothers, Manny Waks, sued Yemini for defamation following claims by Yemini that Waks and their father were harbouring a known paedophile in the family home.[9]
On 4 March 2018, Yemini joined the Australian Liberty Alliance to run as a candidate for the Southern Metropolitan Region at the 2018 Victorian state election.[10] He was unsuccessful, receiving 0.49% of the vote.[11]
In July 2019, Yemini admitted he threw a chopping board that hit his former wife on her forehead. He also pleaded guilty to using a carriage service to harass by sending abusive text messages to her, and one charge of breaching an intervention order relating to a video of a man. Yemini's lawyer argued he did not mean to hit her.[12]
In 2021, Yemini took legal action against three Victorian parliamentary officials - including former Legislative Assembly speaker Colin Brooks - after he was denied media accreditation in July of that year.[13][14] Yemini subsequently lost the case, and a further appeal in 2022.[14]
In 2023 he sued Facebook fact-checkers RMIT for labeling Rebel News content as "misleading". The case was dismissed as he had "failed to make any formal inquiries via appropriate channels with relevant persons".[15]
References
- ^ Surkes, Sue (14 March 2017). "Caller threatens to kill Melbourne Jewish gym owner". The Times of Israel.
An anonymous caller threatened Tuesday to shoot an Australian-born Jewish gym owner in the head and told him to leave the country.
- ^ "Avi Yemini joins Rebel News". Rebel News. 4 September 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Elliott, Tim (18 February 2023). "'He's exploiting people who are genuinely scared': Avi Yemini and the art of outrage". The Age.
- ^ Martin, Lisa (15 November 2018). "Victorian Liberal party candidate asked to resign over 'anti-Muslim' video". Guardian Australia.
- ^ a b "Avi Yemini". Rebel News.
- ^ Bianca Hall, "Jewish business IDF Training banned from Facebook after sharing anti-Semitic post" The Age
- ^ Bianca Hall, "Melbourne gym recruits members for Israeli army" The Age
- ^ "Self Defence Classes, Martial Arts Melbourne, Muay Thai Melbourne, Boxing Melbourne". www.idftraining.com.au.
- ^ Hall, Bianca (2016-09-27). "Manny Waks sues brother for defamation over 'harbouring paedophile' claims". The Age. Archived from the original on 2017-12-22. Retrieved 2017-12-22.
- ^ "Avi Yemeni is joining forces with ALA" Australian Liberty Alliance
- ^ "State Election 2018: Southern Metropolitan Region results summary - Victorian Electoral Commission". www.vec.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
- ^ Andrews, Jon. "Far-right political player Avi Yemini admits unlawful assault on ex-wife by throwing chopping board". Herald Sun.
- ^ "YEMINI V ELASMAR - TRIAL". Supreme Court of Victoria.
- ^ a b "'Press freedom is dead': YouTuber's complaint after Supreme Court dismisses press pass legal fight". news.com.au.
- ^ [1]