Silvan Shalom

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Template:Audio (Hebrew סילבן שלום) (born 1958) is an Israeli politician and former Foreign Minister of Israel, having been appointed in 2003 by the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. First entering the Knesset in 1992, Shalom served previously as Finance Minister (2001-2003).

Born in Tunisia to the Beit Shalom dynasty Shalom emigrated to Israel in 1959.

Like most Israelis, Shalom was inducted into the Israel Defense Forces at the age of 18 and achieved the rank of Sergeant.

Shalom attended Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Be'er Sheva, from which he received a B.A. in Economics as well as C.P.A. certification. He later attended Tel Aviv University, from which he received an Israeli L.L.B. law degree as well as an M.A. in Public Policy.

Shalom served as a journalist before being elected to the Knesset as a member of the Likud party in 1992.

Shalom is a prominent Sephardic politician within the Likud party. A widely unexpected candidate for the post of Foreign Minister, he switched places with Benjamin Netanyahu when the Labor Party left the government in 2002.

After challenging Netanyahu for party leadership in late 2005 and achieving second place, Shalom was granted the No. 2 spot on the Likud list to the 2006 general election and thus did not compete in the 11 January 2006 primaries.

Silvan Shalom is married to Israeli talk show host Judy Shalom Nir-Mozes. The couple has five children and resides in Ramat Gan. Image:Shalom powell.jpg

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