Amichai Chikli
Amichai Chikli | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Faction represented in the Knesset | |
| 2021–2022 | Yamina |
| 2022– | Independent |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 September 1981 Jerusalem |
Amichai Chikli (Template:Lang-he, born 12 September 1981)[1] is an Israeli politician who currently serves in the 24th Knesset. He was elected to the Knesset on the Yamina party slate.
Biography
Chikli was born in Jerusalem in 1981 to a Tunisian Jewish family. He is the son of Masorti Rabbi Eitan Chikli. After completing high school he spent a year in Ma'ayan Baruch attending the Social Leadership Institute.[2] He then joined the Israel Defense Forces and served in the Golani Brigade and the Shayetet 13 naval unit.[2] He subsequently studied for a bachelor's degree in security and Middle Eastern studies at the Tactical Command Academy, after which he became a company commander in Unit Egoz. After leaving the army he began studying for a master's degree in diplomacy and security at Tel Aviv University.[2] During his studies he established the Tavor Academy for Social Leadership in Nazareth Illit in 2010.[2]
Political career
Entering politics, Chikli was placed ninth on the New Right list for the April 2019 elections,[3] but the party failed to win a seat.[4] Prior to the 2021 elections he was placed fifth on the Yamina list,[1] and was elected to the Knesset as the party won seven seats. In May 2021 he stated that he would vote against a government containing Meretz or the Joint List.[5] After Yamina joined a coalition government that included Meretz and an Arab party, Chikli voted against the new government in its investiture vote on 13 June 2021, the only Yamina MK to do so.[6] On 23 June 2021, it was reported that Chikli would vote in favour of most legislation proposed by the coalition government.[7] In July 2021, he voted against the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law that would prevent Palestinians from marrying Israelis and receiving citizenship, resulting in it failing to pass as the vote ended in a 59–59 tie.[8]
Chikli subsequently voted against his party a total of 754 times, regularly assisting the opposition.[9] On 25 April 2022, a Knesset committee voted 7–0 in favour of a request from Yamina declare him a "retiree" (no longer part of the party). He was then legally declared a "retiree", meaning he cannot run in the next Knesset elections as part of a faction from the current Knesset, but only in a new party. However, Chikli will be able to run in one of the existing parties on the condition that he resigns from the Knesset. This was only the second time such proceedings had been used against an MK who had not retired independently, with Chikli only the third Knesset member to be declared a retiree.[citation needed]
References
- ^ a b בחירות 2021: חברי הכנסת ה-24 מטעם מפלגת ימינה Mako, 5 April 2021
- ^ a b c d Amichai Chikli Schusterman
- ^ הימין החדש בראשות שקד ובנט Central Elections Committee
- ^ Reform rabbi, Kahanist agitator, firebrand writer: The new Knesset’s 16 rookies The Times of Israel, 26 March 2021
- ^ "Yamina MK doubles down on opposing coalition with the left". The Times of Israel. 6 May 2021.
- ^ "Bennett sworn in as prime minister, unseating Netanyahu after 12 years in power". The Times of Israel. 13 June 2021.
- ^ TOI Staff (23 June 2021). "Rebel Yamina Mk to Toe Line". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- ^ Yamina Maverick’s Fate Uncertain Hamodia, 7 July 2021
- ^ Shpigel, Noa (2022-04-25). "Bennett Scores Victory as Renegade Party Member Declared Defector". Haaretz. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
External links
- Amichai Chikli on the Knesset website
- Amichai Chikli on Twitter
