Orly Levy-Abekasis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Orly Levy-Abekasis
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Levy-Abekasis in 2015
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| 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) is an Israeli politician. She was born on November 11, 1973. Before becoming a politician, she worked as a model and a TV host. She became a member of the Knesset (which is like Israel's parliament) in 2009.
Orly Levy-Abekasis first joined the Knesset with the Yisrael Beiteinu party. Later, she decided to leave the party in 2017 and became an independent member. In 2019, she started her own political party called Gesher. She returned to the Knesset in September 2019 after her party teamed up with the Labor Party. In May 2020, she was chosen to be the Minister for Community Empowerment and Advancement. This was a new government role created by Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Orly Levy-Abekasis focuses on social issues and making sure everyone has fair economic chances.
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Orly Levy-Abekasis's Early Life
Orly Levy was born in Beit She'an, Israel. Her family has roots in Morocco. She is one of twelve children. Her father, David Levy, was also a well-known politician who served as the Foreign Affairs Minister of Israel.
Orly Levy-Abekasis served in the Israeli Air Force during her military service. After that, she studied law and earned a degree from IDC Herzliya college.
She is married to Lior Abekasis. They have four children and live in a kibbutz called Mesilot. Her brother, Jackie, was the mayor of Beit She'an.
Her Journey in Politics
Orly Levy-Abekasis began her political career in 2009. She was placed sixth on the Yisrael Beiteinu party's list for the elections. The party won fifteen seats, and she became a member of the Knesset.
During her first time in the Knesset, she was the Deputy Speaker of the Knesset. She also led the Committee on the Rights of the Child. This committee works to protect and improve the lives of children.
Continuing Her Role
For the 2013 elections, Orly Levy-Abekasis was placed on the Likud Yisrael Beiteinu list. The party won 31 seats, and she continued to be a member of the Knesset. She was again chosen to lead the Committee on the Rights of the Child. In 2015, she was placed second on the Yisrael Beiteinu list for the elections that year.
Becoming an Independent Member
In May 2016, Orly Levy-Abekasis announced she was leaving the Yisrael Beiteinu party. She felt that social issues needed more attention in the government. She officially became an independent member of the Knesset in March 2017. Because she left a party during her term, there were rules about her running in the next elections. So, in March 2018, she decided to start her own new party.
Forming Her Own Party
In December 2018, her new party was named Gesher. This name was used before by a party her father founded in 1996. In the April 2019 elections, her new party did not win enough votes to enter the Knesset.
However, a new government could not be formed after those elections. So, new elections were called for September. In July, Gesher agreed to team up with the Labor Party. Orly Levy-Abekasis was placed second on their combined list. She returned to the Knesset when their alliance won six seats.
In May 2020, she signed an agreement with the Likud party. She was then made the head of the new Ministry for Community Empowerment and Advancement.
For the 2021 elections, Orly Levy-Abekasis was placed on Likud's list. She kept her seat in the Knesset as Likud won thirty seats. However, in the 2022 elections, she was placed lower on Likud's list and did not win a seat in the Knesset.
Media Appearances
In 2023, Orly Levy-Abekasis participated in the ninth season of Rokdim Im Kokhavim, which means 'Dancing with the Stars'. She was the eleventh person to be eliminated from the competition.
