Eliyahu "Eli" Yishai is an Israeli politician, former head of the Shas political party and holder of numerous ministerial roles in the Israeli Cabinet.

Yishai was born in Jerusalem on December 26, 1962, the second of seven children to parents who had immigrated to Israel from Tunisia. Following army service, Yishai began his political life as a member of the Jerusalem City Council, serving in that capacity from 1987 to 1988.

In 1996, Yishai was first elected to Knesset on the Shas Party ticket and was named Minister of Labor & Social Welfare, a position he held until 2000. Yishai served as Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister from March 2001 until February 2003.

In 2000, Yishai took over as head of the Shas Party. He was ousted was his chairmanship in May 2013 by Aryeh Deri.

In May 2006, Yishai was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor, position he held until 2013 and 2009, respectively. In 2009, he was re-appointed Minister of Internal Affairs, a role he held through 2013.

He is married and has five children

Sources: Israeli Foreign Ministry;
Wikipedia.

Eli Yishai