About Rafael Edri
Rafael Edri, 86, Israeli politician, MK (1981–1999) and minister of the environment (1990).
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Full Biography
|Rafael Edri (Hebrew: רפאל אדרי; 10 September 1937 – 22 June 2024) was an Israeli businessman and politician who served as a Member of the Knesset for the Alignment and Labor Party from 1981 to 1999. He also served as Minister without Portfolio between 1988 and 1990 and briefly as Minister of the Environment in 1990.
Life and career
Born in Casablanca in Morocco, Edri emigrated to Israel in 1956. In 1957, Edri became an aide to the head of the Hatzor HaGlilit local council, serving at various times as a clerk, secretary and treasurer. In 1960, Edri was conscripted into service in the Israel Defense Forces, serving for a short time near Tel Hai in the Upper Galilee.
Edri led Mapai and subsequently the Israeli Labor Party in Hazor HaGlilit through three municipal elections in 1965, 1969 and 1973. Edri lost all three elections to a coalition between Mafdal and Gahal (later Likud), but formed successive coalitions in the middle of each term, the first from March 1968 to December 1969, with support from a councillor who left Gahal, and the following two terms, from October 1972 to March 1973 and from February to May 1974, through coalitions with Mafdal and Gahal respectively. The first coalition ended after the election, while the latter two ended in the middle of the term, with Edri's coalition replaced by one between Mafdal and Gahal. Edri was not re-elected to the council in 1978, and moved to Herzliya Pituah that year.
Edri was first elected to the Knesset in 1981, and was continuously re-elected as a member of Alignment and Labor until 1999. After the 1984 election, he became the Chairman of the Alignment parliamentary group. He also became the Chairman of the Coalition [he] in October 1986 as part of a rotation agreement between Prime Ministers Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Shamir. Edri held the role until the 1988 election, after which he became a Minister without Portfolio in the national unity government. On 7 March 1990, Edri was appointed Minister of Environmental Protection. He resigned the post a week later after the Alignment left the coalition as a result of the dirty trick, during which Edri participated in negotiations with Shas and United Torah Judaism. He then served as a deputy Speaker of the Knesset between 1992 and 1999. Throughout his career, Edri served as a person of contact between the Israeli Government and King Hassan II of Morocco.
Edri also served in several corporate roles. He served as Chairman of the Kiryat Shmona development company for several years beginning in 1970. The company's shares were bought up by Shikun Ovdim [he] and the Kiryat Shmona Local Council in 1973, and in early 1977, Edri became the CEO of Shikun Ovdim. In 1984, He resigned as CEO and became Chairman of the Board. In 1988, Shikun Ovdim began the process of merging with Solel Boneh, and both companies became subsidiaries of a new parent company headed by Edri. Later that year, Shikun Ovdim acquired Solel Boneh. In early 1989, after joining the Israeli Cabinet, Edri stepped down as chairman of Shikun Ovdim's board.
Edri did not seek re-election in 1999. After leaving the Knesset, he advised Togoan presidents Gnassingbé Eyadéma and Faure Gnassingbé on economic and mining affairs. In April 2005, he was nominated to chair the board of Bezeq, then a state-owned corporation. Edri was appointed to the board, but didn't become its chairman due to Bezeq's privatiztion in May.
Edri first married a Danish Jewish immigrant named Joanne. The two divorced in 1987 after it was discovered that Edri had an affair with Annie-Claude Amar, the daughter of Moroccan Jewish businessman David Amar. Edri Married Annie-Claude in 1988, and she died on 6 August 1993. Edri died on 22 June 2024, at the age of 86.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Edri
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions
Questions drawn from Rafael Edri's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what city was Rafael Edri born?
- A.Herzliya Pituah
- B.Casablancacorrect
- C.Tel Hai
- D.Kiryat Shmona
Rafael Edri was born in Casablanca, Morocco.
Source: Life and career section
2.In what year did Rafael Edri emigrate to Israel?
- A.1956correct
- B.1981
- C.1950
- D.1960
Rafael Edri emigrated to Israel in 1956.
Source: Life and career section
3.When did Rafael Edri first get elected to the Knesset?
- A.1999
- B.1973
- C.1988
- D.1981correct
Rafael Edri was first elected to the Knesset in 1981.
Source: Life and career section
4.What position did Rafael Edri hold in the government in 1990?
- A.Minister of Finance
- B.Minister of the Environmentcorrect
- C.Speaker of the Knesset
- D.Prime Minister
Rafael Edri served as the Minister of the Environment in 1990.
Source: Introductory summary
5.Rafael Edri served as an aide to the head of which local council starting in 1957?
- A.Herzliya Pituah
- B.Kiryat Shmona
- C.Tel Hai
- D.Hatzor HaGlilitcorrect
Rafael Edri became an aide to the head of the Hatzor HaGlilit local council in 1957.
Source: Life and career section
6.What specific role did Rafael Edri hold between 1992 and 1999?
- A.Minister of Defense
- B.Deputy Speaker of the Knessetcorrect
- C.Chairman of the Board of Bezeq
- D.Mayor of Herzliya
Rafael Edri served as a deputy Speaker of the Knesset between 1992 and 1999.
Source: Life and career section
7.Which international leader did Rafael Edri maintain contact with on behalf of the Israeli government?
- A.David Amar
- B.President Gnassingbé Eyadéma
- C.President Faure Gnassingbé
- D.King Hassan II of Moroccocorrect
Throughout his career, Rafael Edri served as a person of contact between the Israeli Government and King Hassan II of Morocco.
Source: Life and career section
8.What company did Rafael Edri become the CEO of in early 1977?
- A.Shikun Ovdimcorrect
- B.Bezeq
- C.Solel Boneh
- D.Kiryat Shmona development company
In early 1977, Rafael Edri became the CEO of Shikun Ovdim.
Source: Life and career section
9.Who did Rafael Edri advise on economic and mining affairs after leaving the Knesset?
- A.Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Shamir
- B.David Amar and Annie-Claude Amar
- C.The Hatzor HaGlilit council
- D.Gnassingbé Eyadéma and Faure Gnassingbécorrect
After leaving the Knesset, Rafael Edri advised Togoan presidents Gnassingbé Eyadéma and Faure Gnassingbé on economic and mining affairs.
Source: Life and career section
10.Why did Rafael Edri resign from his post as Minister of Environmental Protection in 1990?
- A.He lost the 1990 election
- B.The Alignment left the coalitioncorrect
- C.He moved to Herzliya Pituah
- D.He wanted to lead Shikun Ovdim
Rafael Edri resigned the post a week after his appointment because the Alignment left the coalition.
Source: Life and career section
11.What prompted the divorce of Rafael Edri and his first wife Joanne in 1987?
- A.His appointment to the Cabinet
- B.His failed bid for the Knesset
- C.A dispute over the Shikun Ovdim merger
- D.An affair with Annie-Claude Amarcorrect
Rafael Edri and his first wife divorced after it was discovered that he had an affair with Annie-Claude Amar.
Source: Life and career section
12.Rafael Edri served as Chairman of the Coalition during which years?
- A.1981-1984
- B.1986-1988correct
- C.1990-1992
- D.1984-1986
Rafael Edri became the Chairman of the Coalition in October 1986 and held the role until the 1988 election.
Source: Life and career section
13.What prevented Rafael Edri from becoming the chairman of Bezeq's board in 2005?
- A.He retired due to health issues
- B.The company was privatized in Maycorrect
- C.He was re-elected to the Knesset
- D.He did not accept the nomination
Rafael Edri was appointed to the board, but did not become chairman due to Bezeq's privatization in May.
Source: Life and career section
14.In what year did Annie-Claude Amar pass away?
- A.2005
- B.1987
- C.1993correct
- D.1988
Annie-Claude Amar, the wife of Rafael Edri, died on 6 August 1993.
Source: Life and career section
15.At what age did Rafael Edri pass away in 2024?
- A.86correct
- B.82
- C.87
- D.85
Rafael Edri died on 22 June 2024, at the age of 86.
Source: Introductory summary
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