17 Facts About Meir Sheetrit

Meir Sheetrit served as a member of the Knesset in two spells for Likud between 1981 and 1988, and again from 1992 until 2005, when he joined Kadima.

Meir Sheetrit remained a Knesset member for Kadima until joining Hatnuah in 2012, for whom he served until 2015.

Meir Sheetrit was a candidate for President of Israel in 2014.

Meir Sheetrit earned a BA and an MA in Public Policy from Bar-Ilan University.

Meir Sheetrit began his political career in 1974 as mayor of the city of Yavne, a position he held until 1987.

Meir Sheetrit was first elected to the Knesset in 1981 on the Likud list.

Meir Sheetrit was re-elected in 1984, but lost his seat in 1988.

Meir Sheetrit unsuccessfully ran in the September 1999 Likud leadership election.

Meir Sheetrit returned to the cabinet in 2001 as Minister of Justice.

Meir Sheetrit was appointed Minister of Transportation in 2004, and later served as Minister of Education, Culture and Sport until 2006.

In 2005, Meir Sheetrit left Likud and joined Ariel Sharon's new Kadima party.

Meir Sheetrit was re-elected in 2006 and appointed Minister of Housing and Construction, a post he held until July 2007, when he was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs.

Meir Sheetrit was replaced in the Justice portfolio by Tzipi Livni, who continued to serve as Foreign Minister.

On 1 December 2012, Meir Sheetrit joined Tzipi Livni's new party, Hatnuah.

Meir Sheetrit disagreed with Livni's decision to run as part of the joint Zionist Union list with the Labor Party in the 2015 elections, and he opted not to contest the elections.

Meir Sheetrit contested in the 2014 Israeli presidential election, coming second with 31 votes in the first round, and losing in the second round with 53 votes.

In November 2021, Meir Sheetrit was appointed to a committee formed to choose a new Attorney General, but decided to forego membership of the committee following public backlash.