18 Facts About Gila Gamliel

Gila Gamliel-Demri is an Israeli politician who currently serves as Minister of Science and Technology, and as a member of the Knesset for Likud.

Gila Gamliel previously served as Minister for Social Equality and as Minister of Environmental Protection.

Gila Gamliel's father Yosef Gameliel was born to a Yemenite Jewish family, and her mother Aliza was born to a Libyan Jewish family.

Gila Gamliel subsequently studied at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, where she was awarded a BA degree in Middle Eastern history and philosophy, and an MA degree in philosophy.

Gila Gamliel was controversially re-elected to the post after her boyfriend, Sagiv Assulin, had removed members who opposed Gamliel's candidacy from the association's steering council.

Gila Gamliel served as the first woman chair of the National Union of Israeli Students, and later obtained a Bachelor of Laws at the Ono Academic College and a Master of Laws at the Bar-Ilan University.

Gila Gamliel became a Knesset member when the party won 38 seats, standing down as head of the Ben-Gurion University students' union, where she was replaced by Assulin.

Gila Gamliel was accused of blackmailing a fellow student council member in order to retain the chairmanship of the students' association of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev at the time.

Gila Gamliel was placed on the 38th spot on the Likud list for the 2006 elections and lost her seat.

Gila Gamliel was re-elected in the 2015 elections, after which she was appointed Minister for Senior Citizens in the new government.

On 17 May 2020 Gila Gamliel took up a different cabinet post when she was sworn in as Minister of Environmental Protection, which she held until 2021.

On 2 January 2023 Gila Gamliel became the Minister of Intelligence.

In 2023 Gila Gamliel suggested the "voluntary resettlement of Palestinians in Gaza" is an option.

Whilst at Ben-Gurion University Gila Gamliel dated Sagiv Assulin, with whom she worked closely together in the students' association, with the couple becoming known as "Sagilon".

Gila Gamliel is married to Hovev Damari, with two daughters, and lives in Tel Aviv.

Gila Gamliel's mother is a Libyan Jew, originating from Tripoli.

Gila Gamliel did not at first disclose to investigators from the Health Ministry that she traveled from her home in Tel Aviv to Tiberias for Yom Kippur during a national lockdown.

Gila Gamliel had instead told investigators from the Health Ministry that she caught COVID-19 from her driver.