Key Facts
Career & Education
About
Gila Gamliel-Demri, born on February 24, 1974, in Gedera, Israel, is the youngest of six siblings in a family of Yemenite Jews from her father's side (the prominent Gamliel family in Gedera) and Libyan Jews from her mother Aliza's side, originating from Tripoli. Her politically active family includes brother Yoel Gamliel, mayor of Gedera; brother Chaim Gamliel, former Likud chairman in Gedera; and relative Aryeh Gamliel, former Knesset member for Shas. She earned a BA in Middle Eastern History and Philosophy and an MA in Philosophy from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, where she led the student union and became the first woman chair of the National Union of Israeli Students. She later obtained an LLB from Ono Academic College and an LLM from Bar-Ilan University. Entering the Knesset in 2003 on the Likud list, she has held numerous roles, including chairing the Committee on the Status of Women, serving as Deputy Minister of Agriculture (2005), Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Office for Youth, Students, and Women (2009), Coalition Coordinator of the Finance Committee (2013, key in Centralization Law), Minister of Senior Citizens/Social Equality (2015, first in that role), Minister of Environmental Protection (2020-2021, climate programs), Minister of Intelligence (2023, first woman, Security Cabinet member), and since March 2024, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology. A member of the Likud party, she is also a member of the World Economic Forum and advocates for women's advancement, drawing from her trailblazing experiences. Married to Hovev Damari with two daughters, she resides in Tel Aviv. Controversies include a 2002 Haaretz report suspecting improper financial dealings, testing positive for COVID-19 in October 2020 after undisclosed lockdown travel to Tiberias prompting resignation calls from the Movement for Quality Government, and a 2023 suggestion for voluntary Palestinian resettlement from Gaza. Active on X/Twitter as @GilaGamliel, she supports Iranian opposition, praising protesters and meeting Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi.
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