Ofer Shelah

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

Biography
Shelah was drafted into the IDF in 1977. He volunteered as a paratrooper in the Paratroopers Brigade, and in 1979 became an officer after completing Officer Candidate School. 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 (Second Person; lit. second body).

Education
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.

Career
He started worked 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.

Political career
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.