Shai Hermesh
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Shai Hermesh (Heb. שי חרמש; Born: 1944) is a member of the 17th Knesset - the Israeli Parliament.
Hermesh was elected as part of the Kadima party headed by Prime Minister of Israel, Ehud Olmert. Before throwing his hat into the national political ring, Hermesh served as Treasurer of the Jewish Agency for Israel and prior to that, he served as Mayor of the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council from 1987 to 2002.
Born in Tel-Aviv in 1944, Hermesh spent his I.D.F military service in the Nahal and the paratroop brigade. With the conclusion of his military service in 1965, he became a member of Kibbutz Kfar Azza, situated on the Gaza Strip border. A year later, in the Six Day War, Hermesh served as a combat soldier in the paratroop brigade, under the command of colonel Motta Gur in the battle to liberate Jerusalem.
From 1967 to 1972 Hermesh studied economics and sociology towards a BA degree, and later acquired an MBA. During his studies, he was Community manager in his kibbutz as well as a member of the United Kibbutz Movement Secretariat.
In the Yom Kippur War, Hermesh was a combat soldier in the paratroop force that crossed the Suez Canal under the command of General Ariel Sharon. Hermesh was the Economics Manager of Kfar Azza for 3 years, followed by another 5 years as the Finance Director of Kafrit, a company producing raw material for the plastics industry. At the end of his term of office, he embarked on studies towards a doctorate in the history of the Jewish People in the modern era. In 1987, after two years during which he was responsible for growing and marketing agricultural produce for export from the Negev farms, Shai was elected to be Mayor of the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council. As such, he also held the position of Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Sapir Academic College of the Negev. At the same time, he served as a member of the forum of the Broadcasting National Authority.
During his time in office, Hermesh was awarded - five times running - the prize for excellent financial management, and has also won the Knight of Quality Government award in 2002.
