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Yossi Sarid (born October 24, 1940) is an Israeli left wing politician. He is currently a Knesset member of Meretz-Yachad party.
He has M.A. degree in Political Science from New School for Social Research, New York. Before entering politics, he was journalist. He still writes a weekly column for Haaretz. In 2003, Sarid began to write some poetry.
Political career
- Knesset member since the 8th Assembly.
- Israeli Labour Party up until 1977 (?).
- Joined Mapam.
- In 1992, he merged with Shulamit Aloni's RATZ and Amnon Rubinstein's Shinui to form Meretz - the social democrat left wing party of Israel.
- During the 1992 elections, Meretz won 12 seats and enters Itzhak Rabin's coalition. Sarid receives the Environment ministry ( המשרד לאיכות הסביבה ).
- In 1996 Yossi Sarid overthrew Shulamit Aloni and became the leader of Meretz. Since then, Sarid and Aloni have developed increasing hate for each other.
- In 1999 Meretz won 10 seats and Sarid vowed not to seat with Mizrahi-Haredi party Shas in the infamous "read my lips" speech. However, Labor prime-minister Ehud Barak insists on joining Shas to the government and presuade Sarid to seat with Shas by giving him the ministry of Education. Sarid explains the breaking of his vow in the need to promote the peace process.
- As an education minister Sarid allocated more resources to peripheral towns and receive praises from their residents (which most of them consist the support basis of Likud and Shas).
- In 2000 Sarid resigned from the government and Meretz quits the coalition after failing to agree on authority to be given for Shas deputy minister of education.
- In 2003 Meretz is joined by formeer Labor members Yossi Beilin and Yael Dayan. Meretz merges with Roman Bronfman's party and promise Bronfman reserved 5th place in Meretz's Knesset list.
- In the elections of 2003 Meretz won only 6 seats and popular figures such as Ilan Gil'on, Yoav Kreem and Musi Raz are staying out of the Knesset. Yossi Beilin doesn't reach for the Knesset as well.
- Sarid resigns from the leadership of Meretz following the humilating defeat in the 2003 elections. Sarid, however, remains an active Knesset member. He also serves at the Knesset's "Security and Foreign Affairs Committee".
- In 2004, Meretz and Beilin are merging into Yachad. Beilin defeats Meretz's socialist Ran Cohen and became the leader of Yachad until 2006.
External link
- Yossi Sarid (http://www.knesset.gov.il/mk/eng/mk_eng.asp?mk_individual_id_t=126) (Knesset website)
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