Gilad Erdan

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Gilad Erdan
Image:Replace this image male.svg
Date of birth 30 September 1970 (1970-09-30) (age 37)
Knesset(s) 16th, 17th (current)
Party Likud

Gilad Moshe Erdan (Hebrew: גלעד מנשה ארדן‎, born 30 September 1970) is an Israeli political and member of the Knesset for Likud. He is currently the chairman of the Likud Youth.

[edit] Biography

Born in Ashkelon, Erdan was a Lieutenant in the IDF. After finishing his military service, he studied Law at Bar-Ilan University, gaining an LL.B, and started working as an attorney.

Becoming involved in politics, Erdan worked as an advisor to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, and was director of the Department for public petitions to the PMs office between 1996 and 1998. He also worked as an advisor to Likud MK Ariel Sharon in the 1990s.

Erdan was first elected to the Knesset in the 2003 elections, retaining his seat in the 2006 elections despite Likud's collapse from 40 to 12 seats (Erdan won 4th place on the list in the party's primaries).

In the Knesset, Erdan has openly supported boosting ties between Israel and Evangelical Christians,[1] as well as presenting bills to enforce no-smoking laws [2], permanently revoking the driving licenses of serial traffic offenders [3] and to allow the courts to revoke citizenship for "disloyalty to the state". [4] Prior to submitting the latter bill, Erdan was involved in a spat with Israeli Arab MK Azmi Bishara; during a meeting of the Knesset Law and Constitution Committee to discuss a similar proposal by NRP MK Zevulun Orlev Erdan interrupted a Bishara speech by shouting "Why don't you just go back to Syria?" in reference to Bishara's trip there the previous summer. Bishara responsed by saying "Why don't you just go fuck yourself?", before being removed by security.[5]

Outside the Knesset, Erdan is chairman of Al Sam, an organisation dealing with drug issues (he also serves on the Knesset's Committee on Drug Abuse), and also established the Lobby for Soldiers Missing in Action, of which he remains chairman. Erdan is also a member of the Israel Broadcasting Authority's General Assembly.

Erdan lives in Ashkelon and is married with two children.

[edit] References

  1. ^ MK Erdan: Let's boost Evangelical ties Jerusalem Post, 10 May 2007
  2. ^ Knesset panel to discuss 'red cards' for smokers Jerusalem Post, 26 February 2007
  3. ^ MK proposes permanently revoking licenses of serial traffic offenders Haaretz, 9 October 2006
  4. ^ 'Disloyalty' bill passes first hurdle Jerusalem Post, 10 January 2007
  5. ^ Bishara flings obscenities at Erdan Jerusalem Post, 6 December 2006

[edit] External links

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