Ruhama Avraham

Ruhama Avraham Balila (Hebrew רוחמה אברהם בלילא; born January 29, 1964 in Rishon LeZion ) is an Israeli politician who served as a Knesset member of the Likud and Kadima 2003-2013. She was Deputy Minister of the Interior, Minister of Tourism and Minister without Portfolio, responsible for relations with the Knesset.

Life

The politician was the daughter of Sephardic immigrants from Turkey. After she had completed her military service, she received a bachelor's in political science at Bar- Ilan University.

In 2003 she was elected to the Knesset in 17th place, the electoral list of the Likud in the Knesset. Initially she worked as a member of the Committee of Finance and Economics, besides, she was also active in the committees who fought for the emancipation and equality of women and the improvement of the rights of migrant workers. On March 30, 2005, she was appointed Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs; this office she held until May 4, 2006.

In 2005 she moved to Kadima. The list # 6 on Kadima's election list in the Knesset elections 2006, she was re-elected. In the same year, however, began an investigation of a corruption probe, were allegedly involved in the Avraham and Eli Aflalo. They were accused that the parastatal agricultural export company Agrexco had paid them a visit in the amount of $ 6,800 plus $ 4,388 expenses. Following the journey Avraham convened a special meeting of the Interior Committee of the Knesset, which they themselves did not belong and was in the negotiated compensation for the high export duties by Agrexco. In 2008, she was released on bail; lack of evidence no charges were filed. Nevertheless, the Attorney General Menachem Masus Avraham's behavior evaluated as " unworthy, unclean, violation of the rules of conduct of the Knesset and on the verge of crime".

In a cabinet reshuffle in July 2007, she was appointed Minister without Portfolio, responsible for relations with the Knesset. In July 2008, she was Minister of Tourism. In the 2009 elections, it was number 8 of Kadima's election list and was re-elected. In October 2012, she announced that she would retire from politics.

She is the mother of two children, speaks Ivrith, Ladino, and English.