Yifat Shasha-Biton

Yifat Shasha-Biton (Hebrew: יִפְעָת שָׁאשָׁא־בִּיטוֹן‎, born 23 May 1973) is an Israeli educator and politician. She currently serves as a member of the Knesset for Likud, and held the post of Minister of Construction and Housing from 2019 to 2020.

This article is about the Kulanu MK. For the Israeli law professor, see Yifat Bitton.
Yifat Shasha-Biton
Ministerial roles
2019–2020Minister of Construction & Housing
Faction represented in the Knesset
2015–2019Kulanu
2019–Likud
Personal details
Born (1973-05-23) 23 May 1973
Kiryat Shmona, Israel

Early life and education

Shasha-Biton was born in Kiryat Shmona in 1973 to Rachel, a nurse born in Morocco and Moshe David, the owner of a transportation company born in Iraq. She attended Danciger Comprehensive School in Kiryat Shmona.

In 2002 she received her doctorate in education from the University of Haifa, having already obtained bachelor's and master's degrees in education at the same university. She focused her doctoral dissertation on the influence of education on how Israeli and Palestinian students "understand the concept of peace."[1]

Career

Shasha-Biton became Vice President of Ohalo College, a teacher training college in Katzrin, and was also a member of the board at Tel-Hai Academic College.

In 2008 she ran for mayor of Kiryat Shmona, and was appointed Deputy Mayor and head of the Education and Youth department at the City Council. In the 2013 local elections she was elected to the City Council. Prior to the 2015 elections she joined the new Kulanu party, and was placed seventh on its list.[2] She was elected to the Knesset as the party won ten seats.[3]

After being elected to the Knesset, Shasha-Biton became chair of the Special Committee for the Rights of the Child. In early 2016 she held discussion with child advocates, including "Lo Tishtok" (Thou Shall Not Be Silent), a group offering support to ultra-Orthodox victims of sexual abuse; Yitzhak Kadman, then executive director of the Israel National Council for the Child, and Manny Waks, the chief executive officer of Kol v'Oz. In his comments to her, Waks cautioned: "Sex offenders tend to move from country to country to avoid jail, but what makes Israel unique is the Law of Return, which essentially grants unhindered access to anyone who is Jewish to come here without any real screening." [4] In response to studies about child abuse, Shasha-Biton has stated: "To end the epidemic of sexual abuse of minors, we must act systemically to raise awareness among parents and children; to provide tools to educators to identify children who were harmed; and improve the care and support to the victims and their families. In addition, changes must be made in legislation and law enforcement to bring those who harm to justice."[5]

In January 2019 Shasha-Biton was appointed Minister of Construction and Housing after the incumbent, Kulanu colleague Yoav Galant, left the party and changed portfolios.[6] She was placed third on the Kulanu list for the April 2019 elections, and was re-elected as the party won four seats. The party subsequently merged into Likud and she was re-elected on the Likud list in the September 2019 elections. In January 2020 she was nominated for Minister of Labor, Welfare and Social Services, but her nomination was put on hold until the Knesset could approve it.[7] When a new government was formed in May 2020, she was not included in the new cabinet. She took a position serving as Knesset Coronavirus chairwoman. On 13 July 2020, she voted to reverse the government decision to shutter pools and gyms because of fears of contagion from the COVID-19 pandemic. Channel 12 reported that Likud coalition whip Miki Zohar told her: "You are finished in the Likud party." He added that she would be removed as chairwoman from the COVID-19 committee. However, Likud MK Gideon Sa'ar expressed his support for her and said decisions about closings should be made based on data and not because of threats.[8] In December 2020, she announced that she will join Sa'ar's new party, New Hope.[9]

Personal life

Shasha-Biton lives in Kiryat Shmona, and is married with three children.

References
  1. Meet the New MK: Kulanu's Shasha-Biton wants to narrow social gaps through education The Jerusalem Post, 19 April 2015
  2. Kulanu list Central Elections Committee
  3. Final Unofficial* results of the Elections for the Twentieth Knesset Central Elections Committee
  4. "Israel becoming a 'refuge for pedophiles,' warns advocate for child sex abuse victims". haaretz.com. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  5. ISRAELIS UNAWARE OF RISK FACTORS, PREVALENCE OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE Jewish Community Watch, 15 December 2015
  6. "Yifat Shasha Biton appointed Minister of Construction and Housing". The Jerusalem Post. 9 January 2019.
  7. לוינסון, חיים (10 January 2020). "ח"כ דוד ביטן, החשוד בשוחד, ויתר על המינוי לשר החקלאות לאור העיכובים - פוליטי". הארץ (in Hebrew). Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  8. "Likud Mk comes to defense". TimesofIsrael.com/liveblog. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  9. "Rebel Likud MK announces she's joining Gideon Sa'ar's new party". The Times of Israel. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
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