Ofer Shelah

Ofer Shelah (Hebrew: עֹפֶר שֶׁלַח, born 9 February 1960) is an Israeli journalist and politician. He has served as a member of the Knesset for Yesh Atid since 2013.

Shelah was born in Kiryat Bialik. He enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces in 1977 as a soldier in the Paratroopers Brigade, and in 1979 became an officer. He served as a platoon leader and as an executive officer in the paratroopers, and took part in various raids against PLO camps in Lebanon. After he was honourably discharged he fought as a platoon leader and as company commander in reserve Paratroopers Brigade in the 1982 Lebanon War and lost an eye in Lebanon in 1983. He later published a book about his experiences, Guf Sheni (Hebrew: Second Person; lit. second body‎).

Shelah subsequently completed a BA in Economic and English Literature at Tel Aviv University and an MA in Literature and Creative Writing at New York University.

He started working as a journalist for the mainstream daily' 'Maariv in 1988, later moving to its competitor Yedioth Ahronoth, as well as hosting television news and sports programs. As a journalist, Shelah specialized in writing about security issues and on sports.

Prior to the 2013 Knesset elections Shelah joined the new Yesh Atid party, and was placed sixth on its list. He was elected to the Knesset as the party won 19 seats. During his first time, he was a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee. He was placed sixth on the party's list for the 2015 elections, and was re-elected as the party won 11 seats.

Shelah lives in Moshav Ginaton, and is widowed with two children.