12 Facts About Yosef Paritzky

Yosef Yitzhak Paritzky was an Israeli attorney, politician and columnist.

Yosef Paritzky was an attorney both in Israel and in New York.

Yosef Paritzky was known as a secular liberal who advocated for the separation of state and religion in Israel.

Yosef Paritzky formed the association Am Hofshi and was its chairman.

Yosef Paritzky was re-elected in 2003 and was appointed Minister of National Infrastructure and Energy in Ariel Sharon's government.

Yosef Paritzky established the natural gas system in Israel and led dramatic changes in the electricity and water fields.

Yosef Paritzky was the first to suggest an "Infrastructure Undersea Tunnel" between Turkey and Israel and gave licenses to the first private power stations in Israel.

However, Yosef Paritzky had to leave his position in the Government in July 2004, due to the demand of Tommy Lapid, head of Shinui, with whom Yosef Paritzky had a long and bitter dispute.

Tapes of Yosef Paritzky were published in which he was heard apparently attempting to catch Avraham Poraz, the party's deputy leader, in wrongdoings.

Yosef Paritzky's actions were investigated by the police, but charges were not brought since the police and the Attorney General found no evidence of any criminal acts.

Shinui, led by Lapid and Poraz, attempted to have Yosef Paritzky expelled from the Knesset and replace him with another Shinui MK.

Yosef Paritzky then announced that he was forming his own party, Tzalash, and would run in the 2006 elections, saying his goal was for Shinui "not to attain the minimum number of votes needed to get into the Knesset".