David Amsalem is an Israeli politician of Moroccan-Jewish descent, serving as a member of the Knesset for the Likud party since 2015. Born in Marrakesh, Morocco, he immigrated to Israel with his family at the age of three in 1972, settling in the southern town of Sderot. Amsalem served in the Israel Defense Forces in the Nahal Brigade and later worked as a technician for the Israel Electric Corporation. He entered politics through local activism in Sderot and rose within Likud due to his loyalty to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, becoming known for his staunch defense of the party's leadership and his often inflammatory rhetoric against political opponents, particularly those on the left and within the judicial system. He held the position of Minister of Regional Cooperation from 2020 to 2021, focusing on initiatives to strengthen ties with neighboring countries and promote regional stability, and later served as a Minister without Portfolio. Amsalem has been a vocal supporter of Netanyahu during corruption trials and judicial reform efforts, earning both praise from party loyalists and criticism for statements accused of inciting division. His political style, rooted in his working-class background, emphasizes populism and has solidified his role as a key figure in Likud's right-wing faction and as a long-time political rival of Nir Barkat, though it has also led to controversies, including allegations of unethical conduct in 2023 related to coalition negotiations.