On Wednesday, July 2nd, 2014 the Jerusalem Press Club hosted MK Isaac Herzog, Chairman of the Labor Party and leader of the opposition, who addressed a large group of journalists.
About MK Isaac Herzog:
Isaac Herzog, son of former Israeli President, Chaim Herzog, was born in Israel in 1960. He completed his army service with the rank of major (res.). He holds a law degree from University of Tel-Aviv and is an attorney by profession. As of November 2013 Herzog has been elected Chairman of the Labor Party and also holds the position of Leader of the Opposition in the Knesset.
Isaac Herzog served as Secretary of the Economic-Social Council (1988-1990), as Government Secretary (1999-2001), and as Chairman of the Anti-Drugs Authority (2000-2003). Elected to the 16th Knesset in 2003, as a member of the Labor Party, he has served as a member of the Knesset Finance, Internal Affairs and Environment, and Anti-Drug Abuse Committees, as well as Israel Labor Party Parliamentary Group Whip.
In January 2005 Isaac Herzog was appointed for the first time to a cabinet position in the Israeli Government, and served as the Minister of Housing and Construction. In this capacity he advanced important reforms and made significant achievements.
In May 2006, he was appointed Minister of Tourism, and was successful in handling the acute crisis that faced the tourism industry in Israel as a result of the Second Lebanon War.
In March 2007 he was appointed Minister of Welfare and Social Services & Minister of the Jewish Diaspora, Society and the Fight against Anti-Semitism.
As Minister of Welfare and Social Services, Isaac Herzog accomplished many achievements in the economic and social spheres. These include significant progress regarding children-at-risk, the absorption of people with disabilities into the workforce, enhancement of the quality of life of the elderly, as well as a complete reform of the services offered to Holocaust survivors, the reinforcement of the social safety-net and more.
During Operation Cast Lead in Gaza (December 2008 – January 2009) Isaac Herzog was appointed by the cabinet to be the Israel Government Coordinator for the provision of humanitarian aid to the population of Gaza. In February 2009 he began his second term as Minister of Welfare and Social Services. In January 2011 he resigned from the government.
Following his resignation Herzog continued to serve as an MK and was a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee and the Education, Culture and Sports committee.
During 2012-2013, Herzog served as the Chairman of the Labor Party Parliamentary Group in the Knesset and has been responsible for the coordination of the members of the opposition in the Israeli Parliament.
On November 22, 2013 Herzog was elected chairman of the Labor Party and since then serves as the Chairman of the Labor Party and holds the position of the Leader of the Opposition in the Knesset.
MK Herzog was elected by anonymous vote of the 19th Knesset as a member of the committee that nominates Judges. He is also the chair of the Knesset delegation to the European Parliament, the chair of the Israel-Great Britain Parliamentary Friendship League and the chair of the Israel-Ireland Parliamentary Friendship League. Furthermore Herzog chairs the Pensioners` Lobby, Lobby for nutritional safety in Israel, the Lobby for Promoting Education in the Fields of Technology and Practical Engineering and the Lobby for Public Broadcasting and is the co-chair of the Lobby for Jewish Renewal.
Isaac Herzog speaks Hebrew, English and Arabic, has published articles in the Israeli and foreign press and has recently published a book titled: “Work Plan – a recipe for economic welfare”.
Isaac Herzog is married to Michal, and they have three sons.
