23 Facts About Eyal Gabbai

Eyal Gabbai was born and raised in Jerusalem, one of four children to Israeli-born parents who were both educators.

Eyal Gabbai attended Himmelfarb High School and served as a balloon officer in the Israeli Intelligence Corps.

Eyal Gabbai worked as a teaching assistant for Professor Ruth Gavison.

In 2002, Eyal Gabbai returned to public service as Director of the Government Companies Authority under Prime Ministers Ariel Sharon, Ehud Olmert, and Benjamin Netanyahu.

Eyal Gabbai oversaw the restructuring of Israel Railways and the transformation of the Israel Postal Authority and the Public Works Department into government-owned corporations.

Eyal Gabbai's efforts earned him the nickname "The National Privatizer," with privatizations totaling approximately 16.5 billion NIS during his tenure.

Eyal Gabbai worked to enhance transparency and improve corporate governance in state-owned enterprises, removing underperforming board chairs when necessary.

In 2003, Eyal Gabbai ranked 57th on TheMarker's list of influential figures, and in 2006, he was described as "diligent, honest, and unpretentious," ranking 71st on the same list.

In May 2009, Eyal Gabbai was appointed Director General of the Prime Minister's Office under Benjamin Netanyahu.

Eyal Gabbai was tasked with resolving key socio-economic issues, including mediating between the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Israel on the Bank of Israel Law, and ending a prolonged prosecutors' strike by proposing arbitration.

Eyal Gabbai addressed the natural gas pipeline project to Haifa, which faced delays due to inter-ministerial disputes and promises made to Druze landowners.

Eyal Gabbai played a pivotal role in decisions affecting the ultra-Orthodox community, such as the construction of a fortified emergency room at Barzilai Medical Center and revising income support payments for yeshiva students to encourage workforce participation.

Eyal Gabbai was involved in defense-related matters, including budgeting for the border fence and mediating disputes over military retirement age and the relocation of IDF bases to the Negev.

Eyal Gabbai chaired numerous committees, including the Gabbai Committee on ultra-Orthodox conscription, which aimed to double the number of Haredi soldiers within five years.

Eyal Gabbai resigned from his position in September 2011 after two and a half years in office.

Since 2012, Eyal Gabbai has served as Chairman of the Teachers' and Kindergarten Teachers' Advanced Study Funds.

Eyal Gabbai served as Chairman of the real estate investment trust Megurit from September 2016 to November 2017 and as a court-appointed observer for Israel Post, where he criticized the government's management, comparing it to tycoons abandoning their companies.

In 2016, Eyal Gabbai was appointed Chairman of the Board of Meuhedet Health Provider.

Eyal Gabbai promoted the integration of telemedicine technology through the US-based company American Well, positioning Meuhedet to effectively deliver remote healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eyal Gabbai worked with the government to establish an additional hospital in the Negev.

Eyal Gabbai was appointed Chairman of Yad Ben-Zvi by Hili Tropper.

Eyal Gabbai was offered the position of Director General of the Prime Minister's Office by Naftali Bennett upon the formation of Israel's 36th government but chose to continue his role at Meuhedet Health Fund.

Eyal Gabbai is married to Einat, a clinical psychologist, and is a father to five.