HAIFA, Israel (Press Release) — The University of Haifa will give its Outstanding Leadership Award to Knesset Speaker Yuli-Yoel Edelstein in recognition of his many years of public service; his contribution and actions to help immigrants; and his efforts to maintain Israel’s character as a Jewish, democratic, and law-abiding state. The award will be presented as part of the 46th meeting of the University’s Board of Governors, which be held on June 4-7.
University of Haifa President Prof. Ron Rubin commented that “Edelstein’s personal story is inspiring and is admired by many in Israel and beyond.”
The University of Haifa grants its Outstanding Leadership Award to prominent figures who have made a unique contribution to Israel’s development and resilience. The award will be given to Edelstein this year in recognition of his many years of public service, during which he has been a firm champion of democratic values, civil rights, and the rule of law in Israel; for his actions to help immigrants from the Former Soviet Union, who have become an integral part of Israeli society; for his struggle to ensure equal rights for all citizens of Israel; and for his determination to maintain Israel’s character as a Jewish, democratic, and law-abiding state.
Yuli-Yoel Edelstein was born in 1958 in Czernowitz (Chernivtsi), Ukraine, which was then part of the Soviet Union. In 1979 Edelstein requested permission to emigrate to Israel, but his request was rejected. He began to teach Hebrew secretly, and due to his Zionist activities he was arrested by the KGB in 1984 on false drugs charges. He was sent to a Soviet labor camp, but in 1987, after international pressure, he was released and emigrated to Israel with his family.
In 1996, Edelstein founded the Israel Ba’Aliyah party, together with Natan Sharansky. In the same year, he was elected to the Knesset and served as Minister for Aliyah Absorption. During Edelstein’s period of office, a large number of immigrants came to Israel from the Former Soviet Union, and he worked tirelessly to encourage their integration in employment and in Israeli society.
Edelstein has filled many other positions in the political system over the years, including periods of office as a minister, deputy minister, and Deputy Speaker of the Knesset. In March 2013 he was elected Speaker of the Nineteenth Knesset, a position he has continued to hold in the Twentieth Knesset.
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Preceding provided by the University of Haifa