Ya'akov Margi

Ya'akov Margi
יַעֲקֹב מַרְגִּי
Margi in 2023
Ministerial roles
2009–2013Minister of Religious Services
2022–2025Minister of Welfare and Social Affairs
Faction represented in the Knesset
2003–Shas
Personal details
Born (1960-11-18) 18 November 1960
Rabat, Morocco
CitizenshipIsrael
SpouseShoshana Margi
Children2

Ya'akov Margi (Hebrew: יַעֲקֹב מַרְגִּי; born 18 November 1960) is an Israeli politician. He is a member of the Knesset for Shas.[1] He served as the Minister of Welfare and Social Affairs from 2022 until 2025 and as the Minister of Religious Services from 2009 until 2013.

Biography

Yaakov Margi was born in Rabat in Morocco. His family immigrated to Israel in 1962 under the auspices of Operation Yachin. He grew up in Beersheba.

Yaakov Margi speaking at the Hillula of Rabbi Natan Bukobza in Netivot, 2009.

Political career

Margi joined Shas in 1993 at the invitation of Aryeh Deri. Between 1993 and 2003, Margi served as chairman of the local religious council in Beersheba. Since 2001, he has been the director general of Shas. He was first elected to the Knesset in 2003. After retaining his seat in the 2006 elections, Margi served as group chairperson of the party's faction at the Knesset. He also served briefly as chairman of the House Committee.

He retained his seat again in the 2009 elections, having been placed sixth on the Shas list, and was appointed Minister of Religious Services in the Netanyahu government.[2]

In February 2016, Margi visited Crimea, sparking controversy in Israel. Ukraine subsequently opened a criminal investigation against him over the visit.[3]

Margi lives in Sde Tzvi, a moshav in Southern Israel. He is married, and a father of two.[1]

During Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Israel, he wrote a letter to the pontiff demanding that he clearly condemn the purveyors of Holocaust denial and antisemitism.[4]

He was appointed as the Minister of Welfare and Social Affairs in 2022[5] and served until his resignation in 2025, following Shas' exit from the government.[6]

Margi replaced Semion Moshiashvili in the Knesset upon his return.[7]

In May 2026, Margi announced he would not seek re-election to the Knesset in 2026.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 Yakov Margi knesset.gov.il
  2. ↑ Netanyahu sworn in as Israel's prime minister Archived 2 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine Haaretz, 1 April 2009.
  3. ↑ "ח"כ מרגי ביקר בחצי האי קרים - ועורר סערה". www.israelhayom.co.il. Archived from the original on 22 June 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  4. ↑ Israel demands Pope Benedict XVI condemn Holocaust deniers The Telegraph, 8 May 2009
  5. ↑ Who’s who in the new Netanyahu-led government The Times of Israel, 29 December 2022
  6. ↑ Shas ministers file resignations as party withdraws from government The Times of Israel, 17 July 2025
  7. ↑ Members of 25th Knesset Knesset
  8. ↑ Segal, Amit (24 May 2026). "חה"כ יעקב מרגי מש"ס הודיע שלא יתמודד שוב בבחירות". N12. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
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