Roni Bar-On
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Roni Bar-On (b. June 2, 1948) is Israel's current Minister of Internal Affairs, and is a member of the 17th Knesset.
He is a former member of the Likud party and currently a member of the Kadima party, which was formed by Ariel Sharon at the end of 2005.
Elected to the 16th Knesset in 2003 on the Likud slate, he served as Chairman of the House Committee, and a member of the Constitution, Law and Justice and State Control Committees, as well as a substitute member of the Foreign Affairs. He is also a member of the Defense Committee and a member of the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee on Violence in Sports, as well as a member of the Environmental Lobby. He also served as member of the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee for Uncovering Corruption in the Government System of Israel.
Prior to his election to the Knesset, Bar-On served, among others, as Chairman of the Council for the Organization of Sport-Gambling (1998-2001), member of the Central Committee of the Israel Bar (1995-2003) and the Jerusalem Regional Committee of the Israeli Bar, as well as a member of the Council for the Administrative Courts, the Advisory Commission to the Government Companies Authority, and the Public Defenders Commission. In addition, he served as Chairman of Administration of Beitar Yerushalayim and a member of the Administration of the Israel Football Association.
He is an attorney by profession. His university education was Law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He completed his IDF service with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.
Bar-On was born in Tel Aviv. He is married with 3 children.
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[edit] Criticism of Conduct
[edit] Racism Towards Arab Israelis
Bar-On, in his capacity as Interior Minister, has refused to allot money for Arab Israelis to build public shelters and warning sirens to escape bombings and violence. The mayor of Nazareth, Ramez Jeraisi, has repeatedly requested funds for this purpose, noting that the neighboring Jewish city of Upper Nazareth has been provided with the equipment already. (Israeli-Arabs killed in attack)
On July 19th, 2006, Bar-On verbally attacked Jamal Zahalkha, an Arab Israeli parliamentarian, on the Knesset floor calling him “a snake born to a snake.” He added, “I'd be happy if you would join some of your friends in Lebanon to enjoy what they are enjoying now,” a reference to Israel’s bombing campaign in Lebanon that had commenced a week prior. Zahalkha reportedly criticized the government's actions in Lebanon and the high civilian death toll. (Israelis against the war)
[edit] Insensitivity Towards Fleeing Civilians
Bar On was severely criticized for "ignorance, arrogance and insensitivity" in a signed article in Haaretz on Aug 6, 2006, for saying that any municipal worker in the north of Israel who travels south to seek shelter from Katyushas is a deserter and will not be paid.
