Yaakov Edri

Template:MKs Yaakov Edri, sometimes transliterated as Yakov Edery (Hebrew: יעקב אדרי, born 25 November 1950) is an Israeli politician and Member of the Knesset for Kadima. Formerly Minister of Health and a Minister without Portfolio, Edri is Minister of Immigrant Absorption and Minister of Negev and Galilee Development in the current government.

Born in Morocco, Edri emigrated to Israel in 1959. From 1989-2003, he was mayor of Or Akiva, where he currently resides. In 2003, he became a Knesset member for the Likud. In March 10, 2003, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Internal Security. In late November 2005, he resigned from Likud and joined Kadima. On January 18, 2006, he was appointed as the Minister of Health and the Minister for the Development of the Negev and the Galilee. On July 27, 2006, he was named minister for Jerusalem affairs. As part of a cabinet reshuffle in July 2007 he became both Minister of Immigrant Absorption and Minister of Negev and Galilee Development.

On February 25, 2007, he was appointed to be responsible for Israel's 60th anniversary celebrations. On the same day, he was questioned under caution on suspicion of having tried to receive personal benefits in return for promoting a police commander, Yaakov Zigdon while he was Deputy Minister of Internal Security. He denied the charges.

External links

• Yaakov Edri on the Knesset website (in English)
• Yaakov Edri on the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs website