Orly Levy-Abekasis | |
|---|---|
 Levy-Abekasis in 2015 | |
| Ministerial roles | |
| 2020–2021 | Minister for Community Empowerment and Advancement |
| Faction represented in the Knesset | |
| 2009–2017 | Yisrael Beiteinu |
| 2017–2019 | Independent |
| 2019–2021 | Gesher |
| 2021–2022 | Likud |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 November 1973 Beit She'an, Israel |
Orly Levy-Abekasis (Hebrew: אורלי לוי-אבקסיס, born 11 November 1973) is an Israeli politician and former member of the Knesset. Formerly a model, Levy-Abekasis first entered the Knesset in 2009 as a representative of Yisrael Beiteinu, but left the party in 2017 to sit as an independent. In 2019, she formed her own party, Gesher, to contest the April 2019 elections. Although the party failed to win a seat, she returned to the Knesset following the September 2019 elections, in which Gesher ran together with the Labor Party. In May 2020 she was appointed by Prime Minister Netanyahu as the newly created Minister for Community Empowerment and Advancement.[1]
Levy-Abekasis worked as a model and a local television host,[2] before following her father into politics.[3] Levy-Abekasis's political views are primarily focused on social issues and issues of economic justice. Whilst a member of Yisrael Beiteinu, she was one of two governing coalition members to abstain from the controversial Nation State Law.
- ^ "Gesher's Levy-Abekasis joins coalition, to head newly created ministry". The Times of Israel. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
- ^ Maltz, Judy (16 January 2019). "The Former TV and Fashion Star Who Could Be Israel's Next Kingmaker". Haaretz. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
- ^ Peraino, Kevin (7 February 2009). "An Israeli Supermodel's Bid For Knesset". Newsweek. Retrieved 9 October 2020.