Naomi Blumenthal

Naomi Blumenthal
Date of birth	22 November 1943 (1943-11-22) (age 67)
Place of birth	Bitzaron, Mandate Palestine
Knessets	13, 14, 15, 16
Party	Likud

Naomi Blumenthal (Hebrew: נעמי בלומנטל‎, born 22 November 1943) is a former Israeli politician, her career ended by a conviction for corruption in 2006.

Biography

Born in Bitzaron during the Mandate era, Blumenthal served in a Nahal brigade during her national service. She gained a BA in Political Science and Criminology from Bar-Ilan University and also graduated from the Beit Zvi School of Art in Ramat Gan.

Blumenthal was one of the founders of the Beersheba theatre and chaired the Al-Sam anti-drug abuse association. She is also a former chairwoman of the Political Centre - Israel Women's Network, and was a member of the Israeli delegation to the United Nations Conference on the Status of Women in 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1995.

In 1992 she was elected to the Knesset on Likud's list. After retaining her seat in 1996 and 1999, she was appointed Deputy Minister of National Infrastructure by Ariel Sharon in 2001. She served as chairwoman of the Worldwide Likud Movement between 2001 and 2002, and stepped down from the cabinet in January 2003.

Although re-elected in 2003, it later emerged that she had bribed 15 Likud activists and central committee members during the party primaries in December 2003 by hosting them in a hotel in Ramat Gan.^[1] The episode became known as the "Sheraton City Tower Affair".^[2]

Criticised by the judge for using her right to silence,^[3] she was sentenced to eight months in prison, a ten month suspended sentence and was fined NIS 75,000.^[1] She appealed against the verdict, but lost. However, in July 2007 President Shimon Peres commuted her sentence to community service,^[4] though she was not pardoned. The Movement for Quality Government appealed Peres' decision, but their petition was rejected by the Knesset.^[5]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Court upholds former Likud MK Blumenthal's 8-month jail term for bribery Haaretz, 22 March 2007
2. ^ Naomi Blumenthal asks for pardon Jerusalem Post, 15 May 2007
3. ^ Likud MK convicted of bribery Yedioth Ahronoth, 13 February 2006
4. ^ Peres commutes jail sentence of former Likud MK Blumenthal Haaretz, 23 July 2007
5. ^ In the wake of Naomi Blumenthal Haaretz

See also

• List of Israeli public officials convicted of crimes or misdemeanors

External links

• Naomi Blumenthal Knesset website

Persondata
Name	Blumenthal, Naomi
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	22 November 1943
Place of birth	Tzaron, Mandate Palestine
Date of death
Place of death