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David Azulai ( he, דוד אזולאי; 5 May 1954 – 30 October 2018) was an Israeli politician who served as a member of the Knesset for Shas for over 20 years from 1996 and 2018. He was also Minister of Religious Services from 2015 until his death in 2018.


Biography

David Azulai was born in Meknes in Morocco, and immigrated to Israel in 1963. From 1973 to 1993, he worked as a teacher and vice principal.


Political career

From 1978 to 1993, he was a member of Acre's local council and served in the municipality's committees. In 1993, he was elected to
Nahal Iron Wadi Ara ( ar, وادي عارة, he, ואדי עארה) or Nahal 'Iron ( he, נחל עירון), is a valley and its surrounding area in Israel populated mainly by Arab Israelis. The area is also known as the "Northern Triangle". Wadi Ara is ...
Regional Council, serving as deputy mayor of the council and later as its mayor. He resigned following his election to the Knesset in 1996. He served as Chairman of the Internal Affairs and Environment Committee (2000–2001) and as Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs (2001–2003). In the latter post, he was assigned to head of commission regarding the status of the Falasha. Following the
2015 elections The following elections were scheduled to occur in the year 2015. Africa * 2015 Beninese parliamentary election 26 April 2015 * 2015 Burkinabé general election 29 November 2015 * 2015 Burundian legislative election 29 June 2015 * 2015 Burundi ...
, he was appointed Minister of Religious Services in the new government. He gave up his Knesset seat in March 2018 under the
Norwegian Law Norwegian law may refer to: *Norwegian Law (Israel), a law on the appointment of ministers and membership of the Knesset *Law of Norway Law in Norway follows a Civil law (legal system), civil law system. The Supreme Court of Norway, Supreme Court ...
due to an illness, and was replaced by his son
Yinon Yinon ( he, יִנּוֹן, lit. "it shall flourish") is a moshav in southern Israel. Located near Kiryat Malakhi, it falls under the jurisdiction of Be'er Tuvia Regional Council. In it had a population of . History The moshav was founded 1952 b ...
.Religious Affairs Minister Azoulay dies after battle with cancer
The Times of Israel, 30 October 2018


Controversy

In a meeting with MK Ayelet Shaked about Women of the Wall, an Israeli group fighting for the right of Jewish women to pray at the Kotel in their fashion, Azulai referred to them as "provocateurs", and claimed that Reform Judaism is "a disaster for the nation of Israel". Women of the Wall then voiced a protest: "We expect Ayelet Shaked, like her predecessor, to announce unequivocally that as a woman and a justice minister, she will not sign discriminatory regulations, and will not be a part of exclusion of women from the Western Wall or from any other place. The court has already ruled that these regulations are discriminatory and illegal." Azulai's comments were also condemned by Rabbi Gilad Kariv, executive director of the Reform movement in Israel, who noted, "If Minister Azoulay cannot function as minister for all the citizens of Israel, then he should resign." A month later, in July 2015, Azulai stated “The moment a Reform Jew stops following the religion of Israel... I cannot allow myself to call such a person a Jew.”


Death

On 30 October 2018, Azulai died after a long-term battle with cancer.David Azoulay, Israel's Religious Services Minister, Dies at 64
Haaretz, 30 October 2018 The illness had also forced him to resign from the Knesset early in the year. His son Yinon, who succeeded him in Knesset, is among those rumored to be candidates to take Azulai's place as the Israeli Religious Affairs Minister.


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Azulai, David 1954 births 2018 deaths Deputy ministers of Israel Ministers of Religious affairs of Israel Israeli Orthodox Jews Israeli schoolteachers Deaths from cancer in Israel Mayors of regional councils in Israel Members of the 14th Knesset (1996–1999) Members of the 15th Knesset (1999–2003) Members of the 16th Knesset (2003–2006) Members of the 17th Knesset (2006–2009) Members of the 18th Knesset (2009–2013) Members of the 19th Knesset (2013–2015) Members of the 20th Knesset (2015–2019) Moroccan emigrants to Israel 20th-century Moroccan Jews People from Acre, Israel People from Meknes Shas politicians