Reuven Rivlin, 14th Speaker of the Knesset

Reuven "Rubi" Rivlin ( ראובן ריבלין, born 9 September 1939) is an Israeli lawyer, politician, currently serving as a speaker of the Knesset. He belongs to conservative Likud. A former Speaker of the Knesset, in 2007 he ran in the election for President as the Likud candidate. He withdrew after the first round of voting when it became clear that Kadima MK Shimon Peres had sufficiently broad support to inevitably win in a run-off.

Biography

Born in Jerusalem, he received an LL.B. from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and worked as a lawyer. He is a descendant of the students of the Vilna Gaon and a member of the Rivlin family.

He was first elected to the 12th Knesset in 1988, and served as Likud chairman from 1988 to 1993. He lost his seat in the 1992 elections, but returned to the Knesset following the 1996 elections. Re-elected in 1999, he was appointed Minister of Communications in March 2001, serving until February 2003, when he was elected Knesset Speaker following the 2003 elections. During his term as speaker, he was criticized for breaking the tradition of political neutrality of the post; he was one of Ariel Sharon's harshest critics regarding the disengagement plan, and had a public confrontation with Aharon Barak, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, concerning the court's authority to declare legislation illegal.

Rivlin was re-elected in 2006 and 2009.

On March 30, 2009 the Knesset voted Knesset Member Rivlin as speaker with a majority of 90 votes of the 120.

In June 2010, Rivlin once again found himself in the center of a controversy after ignoring the advice a committee that recommended the removal of Balad MK Haneen Zoabi for having participated in the Gaza flotilla earlier that year. His actions were criticized by many MKs and the Israeli right, but Israeli and foreign liberals praised Rivlin for his courage in defending Israeli democracy.

Reuven is married and has four children.

Rubi Rivlin, for his first official visit as Knesset Speaker, chose the Arab-Israeli town of Umm el-Fahm, just south of the Galilee. He was accompanied by MKs Uri Orbach (Jewish Home) and Afu Agbariyah (Hadash), a resident of the city.

Citing Pope Benedict XVI's previous compulsory membership in the German military service, Rivlin berated the Pope over his address at Israel's Yad Vashem memorial.

Education: LL.B., Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Military Service: Major

Knesset Terms

Knesset 12 21.11.1988 - 13.7.1992

Knesset 14 1.9.1996 - 7.6.1999 (Partial tenure)

Knesset 15 7.6.1999 - 17.2.2003

Knesset 16 17.2.2003 - 17.4.2006

Knesset 17 17.4.2006 - 24.2.2009

Knesset 18 24.2.2009

Knesset Presidium

Knesset 15 Deputy Speaker of the Knesset

Knesset 16 Speaker of the Knesset

Knesset 18 Speaker of the Knesset*

Roles in the Government

Knesset 15 Govt. 29 Minister of Communications

Public Activities

Legal Adviser, team manager and Chairman, Betar Jerusalem Sports Association

Member, Jerusalem Municipal Council (since 1978)

Member, Executive Council of El Al (1981-1986)

Member, Board of Trustees, Khan Theater

Member, Board of Trustees, Israel Museum, Jerusalem

Chairman, Jerusalem Branch of the Herut Movement (from 1986)

Chairman, the Likud Organization (1988-1993)

Publications: Articles in the Israeli press

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reuven_Rivlin

http://www.knesset.gov.il/mk/eng/mk_eng.asp?mk_individual_id_t=114

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Reuven "Rubi" Rivlin ( ראובן ריבלין (help·info), born 9 September 1939) is an Israeli lawyer, politician, currently serving as a speaker of the Knesset. He belongs to conservative Likud. A former Speaker of the Knesset, in 2007

from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reuven_Rivlin

ראובן (רובי) ריבלין (נולד ב-9 בספטמבר 1939) הוא יושב ראש הכנסת ה-18. חבר כנסת מטעם מפלגת הליכוד. היה יושב ראש הכנסת ה-16 ושר התקשורת בממשלת שרון הראשונה. עורך דין במקצועו.

ראובן ריבלין נולד בירושלים למזרחן פרופסור יוסף יואל ריבלין, נצר למשפחת ריבלין, שעלתה לירושלים בעליית תלמידי הגר"א. שירת בצה"ל והגיע לדרגת רב-סרן. הוא למד משפטים באוניברסיטה העברית בירושלים.

ריבלין כיהן כחבר מועצת המנהלים של אל על בין השנים 1981-1986, וכן כיו"ר המוסד לבטיחות ולגיהות בין השנים 1985-1988 וכיועץ המשפטי של קבוצת הכדורגל בית"ר ירושלים.

ראובן ריבלין הוא צמחוני מטעמי מצפון מצעירותו

from:

http://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%95%D7%91%D7%9F_%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%91%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%9F

http://www.knesset.gov.il/mk/heb/mk.asp?mk_individual_id_t=114