Shelli Yehimovich

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Shelli Yehimovich (Hebrew: 'שלי יחימוביץ, born 28 March 1960) is an Israeli journalist and politician, and Knesset member. She is number nine on Labour's list.

A graduate of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in behavioural studies, Yehimovich began her journalistic career during her studies in Be'er Sheva, as the southern correspondent in Al Ha-Mishmar. She later became an anchor for IBA radio's Reshet Bet ("Net B") in several shows. As a journalist, she emphasized on feminist and socialist issues, and strongly supported the IDF withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

In October 2000, following a dispute with IBA management, she left IBA radio and joined the commercial Arutz 2 (television) where she hosted interviews. She held a personal column where she often criticized the relationship between concentrated wealth and political power. She also joined Galey Tzahal ("IDF Waves", the IDF's radio station) for a weekly appearance.

In November 29, 2005, two weeks after Amir Peretz was voted as chairman of Labour, Yehimovich announced she was leaving journalism and entering politics. She ran in the Labour Primary where she attained the ninth place. She was voted to the 17th Knesset in the 2006 elections.

In August 2006, she made a controversial statement accusing President Moshe Katsav of guilt in an unfolding rape case that had not yet made it to court.