MK Ofir Akunis

Minister, Ministry of Science and Technology

Ofir Akunis, 44, has served in a series of public roles, including: Minister in Prime Minister’s Office in charge of the Broadcasting Authority and the Second Authority for Television and Radio, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office for the coordination between Government and the Knesset and Chairman of the Knesset Economic Committee. In addition, Akunis served as Chairman of the National Computer for Every Child Committee, which he upgraded to provide a tablet for every child. Minister Akunis is a member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense and State Control Committees. During his tenure, a long series of laws was legislated, including: the cellular reform, cancellation of the disconnection fines charged by Hot and Yes television service providers, a law that requires public institutions to only purchase Israeli flags manufactured in Israel, amendment to the transportation order enabling parking at bus stations on the Sabbath and holidays, and he was one of the initiators of the Embargo Prohibition Law, which fights boycott attempts against Israel, etc.
Minister Akunis graduated Tel Aviv University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations and is an alumnus of the Herzliya Hebrew Gymnasia High School. In his youth, he worked as a reporter for the Maariv Youth magazine, and as a music editor for the Youth Club program on Reshet Gimel radio. He served in the IDF as a military correspondent in the Chief Education Officer’s Headquarters.
In 1992, Akunis joined the Likud Party; and in 1996, he began working in the Media Information Department at Metzudat Zeev in Tel Aviv. In June 1996, when Binyamin Netanyahu became Prime Minister after winning the elections, he served as Deputy Media Advisor to the Prime Minister. He subsequently became the spokesman for the Likud Party; and in 2004, he was appointed Netanyahu’s Media Advisor at the Ministry of Finance. He continued to serve as his advisor until 2008, when he was appointed the Likud’s VP Media and Communications.
Akunis is married and a father of two children. He lives with his family in Tel Aviv.