Akademik

(1948- )

   Born in Morocco, he immigrated (see ALIYA) to Israel in 1957. Educated at Bar Ilan University, he served as mayor of Yavneh from 1974 to 1987 and as treasurer of the Jewish Agency for Israel from 1988 to 1992. First elected to the Knesset in 1981 on the Likud list, he sat on many Knesset committees. During the 14th Knesset (1996-99), he served as deputy speaker of the Knesset and as Knesset coalition leader. He served as minister of finance from February to July 1999. Reelected to the 15th Knesset (1999) and the 16th Knesset (2003), from February 2003 to July 2004, he served as minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Finance, and in July 2004, he was appointed acting minister of transportation. He was reappointed to the transportation portfolio in the coalition announced by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on 10 January 2005. Shitreet was among the most prominent Likud members of the Knesset to quit the party in November 2005 and join Sharon's new Kadima list that would contest the March 2006 election to the 17th Knesset. Reelected to the Knesset, he was appointed minister of housing and construction and in August 2006 was also named acting minister of justice. He was appointed minister of internal affairs on 4 July 2007.