Ophir Pines-Paz

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Ophir Pines-Paz

Ophir Pines-Paz (in Hebrew אופיר פינס - פז) (born July 11, 1961) is the Israeli Minister of Science, Technology, Culture and Sports, and a Knesset member. He was and is a popular member of the Labour Party. In December 2004, he topped a party poll for ministerial positions in the forthcoming coalition with the Likudist government and on January 10, 2005 was appointed as Interior Minister.

Personal life

Born in Rishon LeZion, he graduated from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a M.A. in Public Policy from Tel Aviv University. He is currently married with two children. He is a prominet member of the Israeli Masorti (Conservative) Movement.[link]

Politics

Paz-Pines served as the Secretary General of the Labour Party, Former Chairman of the Authority for Rehabilitation of Prisoners, and was the recipient of the 1997 ”Amitai” award for honest management and integrity. He also served as Deputy Director-General of the Immigration and Absorption Department of the Jewish Agency.

Paz-Pines is noted for encouraging Jewish settlers to accept Sharon's proposed plan to withdraw from many disputed settlements to placate Palestinian concerns over Jewish expansionism.

In March 2005, he met with Nasser Yousef to discuss Palestinian requests to allow Palestinian-Israeli couples to reside in Israel.

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