TAU Alumni Fill Ranks in Israel's 36th Government

Upon the swearing in of Israel’s new Unity Government, the country's 36th government, on Sunday night, The Tel Aviv University Alumni Organization would like to extend special congratulations to all the TAU alumni who are now serving as cabinet ministers. 

The Knesset (Israel’s parliament) approved the new coalition government in the wake of four inconclusive elections over the past two years.

Most diverse in Israeli history

The new government is noted as the most diverse in Israeli history as it comprises representation from across the political spectrum from left-wing, centrist and right-wing parties. For the first time in decades, the country’s ruling faction includes an Arab party. It also has the highest representation of women cabinet ministers (9 out of 27) in Israeli history. Reflecting Israel’s diverse societal makeup, the new government is comprised of lawmakers from a vast range of social, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including Jews (observant and secular, Ashkenazi and Mizrahi), Druze, Muslims, Israeli-born Sabras along with immigrants from Russia, Ethiopia and more, with LGBTQ representation as well as the first ever handicapped Minister.

Tel Aviv University alumni assuming ministerial posts include:

• Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked, alumna of the Blavatnik School of Computer Science, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences
• Defense Minister Benny Gantz, alumnus of The Zvi Yavetz School of Historical Studies, Entin Faculty of Humanities
• Intelligence Minister Elazar Stern, alumnus of the Coller School of Management
• Justice Minister Gideon Sa’ar, alumnus of The Buchmann Faculty of Law and the Gordon Faculty of Social Sciences
• Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz, alumnus of the Buchmann Faculty of Law
• Agriculture Minister/Minister for Periphery, Negev and Galilee Development Oded Forer, alumnus of The School of Political Science, Government and International Affairs, Gordon Faculty of Social Sciences
• Internal Security Minister Col. Omer Barlev, alumnus of the School of Political Science, Government and International Affairs, Gordon Faculty of Social Sciences
• Aliyah and Integration Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata, alumna of the Department of Public Policy, Gordon Faculty of Social Sciences
• Environmental Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg, alumna of the Buchmann Faculty of Law
• Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel, alumnus of The Chaim Rosenberg School of Jewish Studies & Archeology, Entin Faculty of Humanities

Additionally, due to the resignation as Knesset members of nine new ministers, 6 more TAU alumni have joined the Knesset.

The 24th Knesset now contains the following 22 TAU Alumni:

• Prof. Alon Tal (Blue & White), Chair of the Department of Public Policy at TAU's Faculty of Social Sciences
• Amichai Chikli (Yemina), alumnus of the School of Political Science, Government and International Affairs at TAU’s Faculty of Social Sciences
• Avi Dichter (Likud), alumnus of the Coller School of Management
• Boaz Toporovsky (Yesh Atid), alumnus of the Buchmann Faculty of Law and the School of Economics at TAU’s Faculty of Social Sciences
• David Bitan (Likud), alumnus of the Buchmann Faculty of Law
• Eitan Ginzburg (Blue & White), alumnus of the School of Political Science, Government and International Affairs at TAU’s Faculty of Social Sciences
• Eli Avidar (Yisrael Beiteinu), alumnus of the TAU Faculty of Humanities
• Eli Cohen (Likud), alumnus of the Coller school of Management
• Gavriela "Gaby" Lasky (Meretz), alumna of the Buchmann Faculty of Law
• Galit Distal Atbaryan, (Likud), alumna of the Faculty of Humanities
• Gil Beilin (The Israeli Labor Party), alumnus of the TAU Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Deputy Foreign Minister Idan Roll (Yesh Atid), alumnus of the Buchmann Faculty of Law
• Michal Rozin (Meretz), alumna of the Faculty of Social Sciences
• Simcha Rothman (The Religious Zionism), alumnus of the Buchmann Faculty of Law
• Vladimir Beliak (Yesh Atid), alumnus of the Coller School of Management
• Maj. Gen Yair Golan (Meretz), alumnus of the School of Political Science, Government and International Affairs at TAU’s Faculty of Social Sciences
• Deputy Internal Security Minister Yoav Segalovich (Yesh Atid), alumnus of the Buchmann Faculty of Law
• Yael Ron Ben Moshe (Blue & White), alumna of the Faculty of Social Sciences
• Yorai Lahav-Hertzano (Yesh Atid), alumnus of the Buchmann Faculty of Law and the Zvi Yavetz School of History
• Yossi Shain (Yisrael Beiteinu), alumnus of the TAU Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences, former Head of TAU's School of Political Science, Government and International Affairs
• Dr. Yuval Steinitz (Likud), alumnus of the Faculty of Humanities
• Zvi Hauser (New Hope), alumnus of the Buchmann Faculty of Law

The Tel Aviv University Alumni Organization congratulates each of 32 TAU alumni in the 24th Knesset and the 36th government of Israel, and wishes them luck with the tremendous work that awaits them!