yuli edelstein

navigate by keyword : 1987 1988 2013 absorption became before edelstein emigrated fighter freedom government hardline hawkish immigrant including israel israeli january jersualem jews knesset known leadership likud male man member minister months parliament party persecution photo politician politics positions protesting refusenik rightwing rose served soviet sovietborn speaker taken this through tough ukraine unions what yuli

Soviet-born in what is now Ukraine, Yuli Edelstein became a refusenik, protesting the Soviet Union`s persecution of Jews. He emigrated to Israel in 1987, a few months before this photo was taken in Jersualem on January 21, 1988. Edelstein rose through politics and in 2013 became Speaker of the Knesset Israeli Parliament, as a member of the Likud Party. He has served as a government minister, including Absorption, and is known for hard-line, hawkish right-wing positions.