BENIZRI, SHLOMO

(1937- )

   Born in Haifa, he received an Orthodox religious education in Sephardic (see ORIENTAL JEWS) institutions. He was first elected to the 13th Knesset in 1992 on the Sephardi Torah Guardians (SHAS) list. He was appointed deputy minister of health by Benjamin Netanyahu (July 1996-June 1999). Reelected to the 15th Knesset on the SHAS list on 6 July 1999, he was appointed minister of health in the government headed by Ehud Barak. He was reelected to the 16th Knesset in 2003.