Ruhama Avraham

Ruhama Avraham Balila (Template:Lang-he, born 29 January 1964) is an Israeli politician. A member of the Knesset for Kadima, she is the current Minister of Tourism. She has also served as a Minister without Portfolio responsible for liaison with the Knesset.

Avraham was born in Rishon LeZion in 1964. After completing her army service, she received a B.A. in political science from Bar Ilan University.

Avraham's name was connected to the media circus at the Likud primary elections. In order to encourage the voters to vote for her, opened up a hot dog stand. she ended up elected at the 17th place at the Likud list (originally she was voted for the 20th place, but was raised to the 17th, which was reserved for women).

Elected to the 16th Knesset in 2003, she served as a member of the Finance and Economics Committees, as well as of the Committees for the Advancement of the Status of Women and for Foreign Workers. In March 2005, Ruhama Avraham was appointed Deputy Minister of the Interior.

In the 17th Knesset, she is currently chairperson of the House Committee and serves on the committee on the Status of Women, the committee for Children's Rights, the committee for Public Petitions and is a substitute member on the Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee. As part of a cabinet reshuffle in July 2007 she was appointed Minister without Portfolio responsible for liaison with the Knesset. In July 2008 she was appointed Minister of Tourism.

She is the mother of two.

References

Ruhama Avraham on the Knesset website

• Ruhama Avraham Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs website