Roni Bar-On
Roni Bar-On (Hebrew: רוני בר-און, born 2 June 1948) is an Israeli politician and lawyer. He currently serves as a member of the Knesset for Kadima and a former Minister of Finance.
Background
Bar-On was born in Tel Aviv shortly after Israeli independence in 1948. After his national service in which he rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, he studied law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Whilst working as a lawyer he became a Justice in the Military Court of Appeals in the West Bank.
In 1997 he was appointed Attorney General, but resigned as a consequence of heavy criticisms related the 'Bar-On Hebron' scandal, which involved allegations against officials that they recommended Bar-On to the position in order to aid organized crime.
Prior to his political career, Bar-On served, among others, as Chairman of the Council for the Organisation of Sport Gambling (1998-2001), member of the Central Committee of the Israel Bar (1995-2003) and the Jerusalem Regional Committee of the Israeli Bar, as well as a member of the Council for the Administrative Courts, the Advisory Commission to the Government Companies Authority and the Public Defenders Commission. In addition, he served as Chairman of Beitar Jerusalem's committee, and also on the committee of the Israel Football Association.[1]
He is married with three children.
Politics
Bar-On entered the political world when he was elected to the 16th Knesset in 2003 on Likud's list. He served as Chairman of the House Committee, and a member of the Constitution, Law and Justice and State Control Committees, as well as a substitute member of the Foreign Affairs. He is also a member of the Defense Committee and a member of the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee on Violence in Sports, as well as a member of the Environmental Lobby. He also served as member of the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee for Uncovering Corruption in the Government System of Israel.
When Ariel Sharon broke with his party to form Kadima, Bar-On followed him, and was appointed Minister of National Infrastructure and Minister of Science and Technology for the last three months of the Knesset's term.
After the 2006 elections, Ehud Olmert appointed him Minister of Internal Affairs. He was also considered for the post of Justice Minister after Haim Ramon's conviction for sexual harassment, but withdrew his candidacy on 4 February, 2007. [2] As part of a cabinet reshuffle in July 2007 he was appointed Finance Minister, despite having no economic experience.
In the 2009 elections he retained his seat after winning fifth place on Kadima's list, but lost his place in the cabinet as the Likud-led coalition formed the government.
Criticism of conduct
Incident with Jamal Zahalka
On 19 July 2006, during the Second Lebanon War Bar-On called Jamal Zahalka, an Israeli Arab MK, on the Knesset floor "a snake born to a snake". He added, "I'd be happy if you would join some of your friends in Lebanon to enjoy what they are enjoying now", a reference to Israel's bombing campaign in Lebanon that had commenced a week prior. This was in response to Zahalka calling Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's speech that of ``blood, toil and crocodile tears".[3]
Insensitivity towards fleeing civilians
Bar-On was severely criticized for "ignorance, arrogance and insensitivity" in a signed article in Haaretz on 6 August 2006, for saying that any municipal worker in the north of Israel who travelled south to seek shelter from Katyushas was a deserter and would not be paid.[citation needed]
References
- ^ Ronnie Bar-On Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- ^ Bar-On withdraws candidacy for position of justice minister Haaretz, 5 February 2007
- ^ I would have been happy had Zahalka been in Lebanon, in Hebrew.
External links
Roni Bar-On on the Knesset website
- Rolnik, Guy (2009-05-28). "'I am worried'". Haaretz. Retrieved 2009-05-30.
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