Moshe Kahlon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Moshe Kahlon
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משה כחלון
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| Ministerial roles | |
| 2009–2013 | Minister of Communications |
| 2011–2013 | Minister of Welfare & Social Services |
| 2015–2020 | Minister of Finance |
| 2016 | Minister of Environmental Protection |
| 2016–2017 | Minister of Economy |
| Faction represented in the Knesset | |
| 2003–2013 | Likud |
| 2015–2016 | Kulanu |
| 2019–2020 | Likud |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 November 1960 Hadera, Israel |
Moshe Kahlon (Hebrew: משה כחלון; born 19 November 1960) is a former Israeli politician. He was a member of the Knesset (Israel's parliament) for the Likud party from 2003 to 2013. During this time, he also served as the Minister of Communications and the Minister of Welfare & Social Services.
After a short break from politics, he started a new party called Kulanu in 2014. He returned to the Knesset the next year. In 2015, he became the Minister of Finance in the government led by Benjamin Netanyahu. Moshe Kahlon announced his retirement from politics on January 12, 2020. He is well-known for his efforts to help people with money problems and to make society fairer.
Contents
Moshe Kahlon: A Leader for the People
Early Life and Education
Moshe Kahlon was born in Hadera, Israel, in the Givat Olga area. He was the fifth of seven children. His parents were Libyan Jewish immigrants from Tripoli. His father worked in construction.
Moshe Kahlon served in the Israel Defense Forces from 1978 to 1986. He was part of the Ordnance Corps, which handles weapons and supplies. After his army service, he started a business that imported car parts. He later earned a degree in political science from the University of Haifa. He also studied law at the Netanya Academic College. In 2013, he attended a special management program at Harvard University.
Starting in Politics
Kahlon became active in politics in the late 1980s. He helped Rami Dotan with his campaign to become mayor of Haifa. During this time, he met Uzi Landau. When Landau became the Minister of Public Security in 2001, he made Kahlon the head of his office for a year.
Kahlon was first elected to the Knesset in 2003. He then became the Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, helping to lead the parliament. Before the 2006 elections, he was a top candidate on the Likud party's list. He kept his seat in the 2009 elections and became the Minister of Communications on March 31.
Making a Difference: The Cellular Revolution
In the Knesset, Kahlon worked to pass a law that would lower electricity costs for families in need. He also led an investigation into bank fees. Kahlon is famous for leading the "Cellular Revolution." This was a set of changes that allowed new phone companies, like Golan Telecom, to enter the market in Israel. This made phone calls much cheaper for everyone in Israel.
On January 19, 2011, he was also appointed Minister of Welfare & Social Services. He took over after Isaac Herzog resigned.
A New Party: Kulanu
Kahlon announced he would take a break from politics and did not run in the 2013 elections. However, in 2014, he said he planned to return to politics. He also criticized the government's policies.
In 2014, he started a new political party called Kulanu, which means "All of Us." He announced that several important people would join his party. These included former ambassador to the US Michael Oren and Israel Prize winner Eli Alaluf.
Kulanu won ten seats in the 2015 elections. The party joined Benjamin Netanyahu's government, which is when different parties work together. Kahlon became the Minister of Finance on May 14, 2015. He also briefly served as Minister of Environmental Protection and Minister of the Economy. He later resigned from the Knesset but continued to serve as a minister.
In the April 2019 elections, Kulanu won 4 seats. The party later joined with the Likud party in May 2020. Kahlon was placed high on the Likud party's list for the next election.
Minister of Finance and Retirement
In April 2020, it was reported that Kahlon was planning to retire from politics sooner than expected. He officially left politics on May 17, 2020. Israel Katz then took over his role as Minister of Finance.
After Politics
In November 2020, it was announced that Moshe Kahlon would lead a new investment fund. This fund was started with members of the House of Al Falahi after Israel and the United Arab Emirates agreed to normalize their relationship.
