Rafael Pinhasi

Rafael Pinhasi (Hebrew: רפאל פנחסי, born 1940) is an Israeli former politician who served as Minister of Communications between 1990 and 1992.

Rafael Pinhasi
Ministerial roles
1990–1992Minister of Communications
Faction represented in the Knesset
1984–1999Shas
Personal details
Born1940
Kabul, Afghanistan

Early life

Born in Kabul in Afghanistan, Pinhasi's family made aliyah in 1950. He was amongst the founders of Shas, and served as deputy mayor of Bnei Brak.

Knesset career

In 1984, he was elected to the Knesset on Shas's list, and in December 1985, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Welfare. He retained his seat in the 1988 elections, and became a Deputy Speaker of the Knesset. In January 1990, he was appointed Deputy Internal Affairs Minister, and in June that year, he became Minister of Communications, serving until the 1992 elections.

As communications minister, he was criticized for granting operating licenses to communications entities owned by his associates. However, he was also credited with opening the telephone market, previously dominated by Bezeq, to competition. Pinhasi granted new licenses for last-mile infrastructure, international calling, satellite communications, etc.[1]

He retained his seat in the election, and was appointed Deputy Minister of Finance in August, holding the post until he became Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs. He was forced to resign from the cabinet by the High Court of Justice in September 1993 after being convicted for making false declarations,[2][3] a crime deemed to be of "moral turpitude".[4]

Re-elected in 1996, Pinhasi lost his seat in the 1999 elections. In 2008, he was appointed chairman of the Tel Aviv cemeteries council.[5]

See also

References
  1. Efi Landau (29 June 1999). "Ministry of Communications: Another Minister in the Style of Rafael Pinhasi?". Globes. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  2. "Background: Olmert's exit is not so simple... or speedy". The Jerusalem Post. 31 July 2008.
  3. Shahar Ilan (12 January 2003). "The roar of the rabbi". Haaretz. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  4. Zvi Zrahiya (15 October 2007). "Disgraced MKs still enjoy benefits". Haaretz. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  5. Nehemia Shtrasler (14 March 2008). "Herzl is turning in his grave". Haaretz. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
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