Ohad Tal

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Ohad Tal
אוהד טל
Faction represented in the Knesset
2022–Mafdal–Religious Zionism
Personal details
Born (1982-01-04) 4 January 1982 (age 43)
Eilat, Israel

Ohad Tal (Hebrew: אוהד טל) is an Israeli politician who serves as a member of Knesset for the National Religious Party–Religious Zionism. He heads the Public Enterprises Knesset Committee, and is a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee,[1] Economics Committee,[2] and Aliyah and Absorption Committee.[3]

Biography

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Tal was born and raised in Eilat. After studing at the Mitzpe Ramon Yeshiva High School, he served in the IDF's Armored Corps as a tank commander and participated in Operation Defensive Shield. He holds both an Executive MBA in Public Policy and Administration from Hebrew University and a BA in Education Administration from Bar Ilan University.

Between 2004 and 2006, Tal worked at Elbit Systems, where he was involved in the development of advanced armored vehicle technologies. Until 2013, he led different educational initiatives that sought to connect the international community to Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. In 2013, he embarked as an Emissary (Shaliach) of the Jewish Agency for Israel and World Bnei Akiva movement to the Netherlands.[4]

Following his return to Israel, Tal founded and directed the Religious Zionist Emissary (Shlichut) Center—a coalition of several nonprofit organizations responsible for Diaspora relations and activities abroad among Religious Zionist communities.[5][6] He was then appointed as Deputy Director of World Mizrachi Movement and led efforts to strengthen Religious Zionist communities around the globe.[7]

In 2021, Tal was appointed Director of World Bnei Akiva, the largest Zionist youth movement in the world. Additionally, he served as a volunteer Chairman of several non-profit educational organizations,[8] as a delegate to the World Zionist Congress and as a member of the Presidium of the WZO General Council.[9]

Parliamentary career

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MK Ohad Tal leaving a meeting at the White House, February 2025

On the day that the lists were submitted for the 2022 election, the chairman of the Religious Zionism party, Bezalel Smotrich, announced the placement of Tal as number 12 on the party's list for the Knesset, which ultimately won 14 seats.[10]

On 13 November 2022, Tal began serving as an active member of the Knesset. After the government was formed, MK Tal began to serve as chairman of the Knesset Committee for Public Enterprises.[11] Under his tenure as chairman, the committee passed, among other things, the digitalization reform of public services,[12] the payment services reform to open up the banking market to competition,[13] and the infrastructure reform to shorten the construction duration of national infrastructure projects.[14]

MK Tal is a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, leading several initiatives from the beginning of the Gaza war to secure Israel's military and security positions.[15] He is also a member of the Aliyah and Absorption Committee and has been active in promoting Israel-Diaspora relations[16] and Israel-US relations.[17]

MK Tal heads the Knesset Israel-US Relations Caucus,[18] the Knesset Caucus for Israeli Victory,[19] and is the Chair of the Parliamentary Friendship Groups with Australia, Guatemala,[20] and Honduras.

MK Tal focuses on issues of national security, foreign policy, Israel–U.S. relations, settlement and sovereignty, free market legislation, and support for reservists and their families.[21][22][23]

MK Ohad Tal and U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman at the Middle East Summit in Jerusalem, October 2024

Beyond his parliamentary activities, MK Tal engages in diplomatic missions on the international stage. In recent years, he has participated in dozens of diplomatic trips to the United States, Australia, Taiwan, and European countries, during which he represented the State of Israel in parliaments, appeared in international media, and met with key political, community, and religious figures, particularly from the Evangelical community in the United States.[24]

In October 2024, he hosted an international summit in Jerusalem in cooperation with former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.[25] The summit aimed to strengthen cooperation between Israel and the United States, as well as to promote the application of Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria.

In November 2024, Religious Zionism Party leader Bezalel Smotrich appointed MK Tal as Chairman of the Religious Zionism faction in the Knesset.[26]

Ahead of President Donald Trump's inauguration in January 2025, MK Tal was invited to speak at an international conference held at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's estate in Florida. In his speech, MK Tal expressed opposition to the hostage deal signed at that time.[27]

Personal life

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Tal is married to Tamar (née Shachal), the director of finance and human resources at the "Da’at" network of high schools and religious youth villages. The couple has four children and they live in Efrat.[28]

References

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  1. ^ "ועדת החוץ והביטחון". The knesset.
  2. ^ "וועדת כלכלה". The Knesset.
  3. ^ "ועדת העלייה, הקליטה והתפוצות". The Knesset.
  4. ^ Josh (19 September 2022). "World Bnei Akiva Shlichim: Inspiring the Next Generation of Religious Zionist Leaders". World Mizrachi. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  5. ^ Josh (11 August 2016). "300 Religious Zionist Shlichim Given Send-Off". World Mizrachi. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  6. ^ "MK Ohad Tal". GPO – Christian Media Summit. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Religious Zionist Party launches its Anglo outreach campaign". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 3 October 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  8. ^ "World Bnei Akiva head 'forced' to resign after joining right-wing party". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 15 September 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  9. ^ "MK Ohad Tal". GPO – Christian Media Summit. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  10. ^ "World Bnei Akiva head 'forced' to resign after joining right-wing party". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 15 September 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  11. ^ "Current Committee Chairpersons". The Knesset.
  12. ^ https://main.knesset.gov.il/Activity/committees/PublicProjects/News/Pages/%D7%94%D7%A6%D7%A2%D7%AA-%D7%97%D7%95%D7%A7-%D7%AA%D7%A7%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%AA-%D7%93%D7%99%D7%92%D7%99%D7%98%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%AA-%D7%91%D7%92%D7%95%D7%A4%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%91%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%99%D7%9D-11.3.25.aspx
  13. ^ רבן, דן (11 May 2023). "למרות התנגדות בנק ישראל: הוועדה אישרה לחברות פינטק להציע פיקדונות". Ynet.
  14. ^ https://main.knesset.gov.il/activity/committees/publicprojects/news/pages/%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%99%D7%99%D7%A7%D7%98%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%9C%D7%AA%D7%A9%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%95%D7%AA-30.4.23.aspx
  15. ^ "MK Ohad Tal: Only way to release our hostages is to pressure Hamas much more". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Religious Zionist Party Releases First Ever Comprehensive Platform on Aliyah, Immigrant Absorption and Diapora Relations". 27 October 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Knesset member to U.S. Republican leaders: Israel wants to strengthen, not harm democracy". All Israel News. 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Israel is targeted on Twitter more than any other country, study finds". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  19. ^ "Right-wing Israeli caucus pushes for return to 1967 war strategy". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 3 August 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  20. ^ "Parliamentary friendship groups of Knesset and Guatemalan Congress hold solidarity conversation". The Knesset. 31 October 2023.
  21. ^ https://c14.co.il/article/1145590
  22. ^ https://israel365news.com/400519/historic-sovereignty-bill-for-judea-and-samaria-introduced-in-knesset/#google_vignette
  23. ^ https://main.knesset.gov.il/Activity/committees/ForeignAffairs/News/pages/7125.aspx
  24. ^ "Israel's One Man Foreign Ministry". 15 July 2024.
  25. ^ "'Middle East Summit' in Jerusalem calls for a new way forward". 29 October 2024.
  26. ^ https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/smotrich-announces-mk-ohad-tal-as-new-knesset-chair-for-religious-zionism-faction/
  27. ^ "At Mar-a-Lago event, Religious Zionism MK urges Trump to reject deal that his own envoy is working to finalize". The Times of Israel.
  28. ^ "World Bnei Akiva head 'forced' to resign after joining right-wing party". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 15 September 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2024.