1. Yitzhak Shmuli is an Israeli politician who served as the Minister of Labor, Welfare and Social Services and as a Member of the Knesset on behalf of the Israeli Labor Party; formerly chairman of National Union of Israeli Students, and one of the leaders of the 2011 Israeli social justice protests.
Yitzhak Shmuli was born in Tel Aviv, Israel on 8 February 1980, to Nechama and Chaim Shmuli.
Itzik Shmuli's family originated from Iraq, he is maternal of Kurdish descent.
At the age of 3, his family moved to Ramat Gan, and He attended Yitzhak Rabin Tichon Hadash High School in Ramat Gan In 1998, Itzik Shmuli enlisted in the Israel Defense Force Armored Corps and served as a tank commander of the 7th Armored Brigade's 82nd Battalion in Israel and Lebanon.
Itzik Shmuli led the student negotiating team in discussions on comprehensive reform in the higher education system.
Itzik Shmuli served on the board of directors of the Civic Trust organization.
Itzik Shmuli was one of the leaders of the 2011 Israeli social justice protests in advocating for housing and cost of living expenses affecting the middle and lower class of Israelis.
Itzik Shmuli successfully rallied student associations to actively support the protest, expanding demonstration participation across Israel, Itzik Shmuli conducted speeches at most rallies across the country.
In November 2011, Itzik Shmuli relocated to the city of Lod and initiated a social action campaign to strengthen the city stating.
In July 2012, Itzik Shmuli resigned from his position as chairman of the National Union of Israeli Students.
Itzik Shmuli was a member of the Israeli Labor Party, serving in the Knesset from 2012 to 2021.
In October 2012, Itzik Shmuli announced his intention to run in the Israeli Labor Party primaries for the 19th Knesset.
Itzik Shmuli was placed in the party's 11th slot for the Knesset list.
Itzik Shmuli headed several lobbies in the Knesset, including the Retirees Lobby, the Lobby for Lone Soldiers, the Affordable Housing Lobby, the Animal Lobby and the Lobby for Pluralistic Judaism against Religious Fanaticism.
In July 2015, following a stabbing incident at Jerusalem's gay pride parade, Itzik Shmuli wrote in an article to Yedioth Ahronoth that "when the knife is raised around the neck of an entire LGBT community, my community, it will not stop there"; in this article, he became the first Knesset Member who came out of the closet during his term.
In elections for the 20th Knesset, Itzik Shmuli was placed fifth on the list of the Zionist Union, after reaching third place in the Labor primaries, and was thus elected to the 20th Knesset.
On 17 May 2020, Itzik Shmuli joined the Israeli Cabinet after being sworn in as Minister of Labor, Social Affairs and Social Services, known as Minister of Welfare.
Itzik Shmuli initiated programs to improve health and social access to the LGBTQ community, opening 6 outreach centres.
In February 2021 After the election of Merav Michaeli as chair of the Labour Party, Itzik Shmuli announced that he was resigning from the Knesset and ministerial roles to take a break from politics, stating that it had been a mistake to join the Netanyahu government.
In 2016 Itzik Shmuli was awarded "Itur ha'Or" award for work on behalf of Holocaust Survivors and the Ometz Medal for outstanding social achievements.
In 2019, Itzik Shmuli and his partner Eran Levy welcomed their first son, and in 2021 welcomed their second son; both born via surrogacy in the United States.