Ora Namir

(1930 - )

Ora Namir was born in Israel in 1930.

Namir, who served as an officer in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during the War of Independence, began her public career as Secretary of the Mapai Knesset faction and later of the coalition executive.

She studied at the Levinsky and Givat Hashlosha teachers' colleges, and studied classics and English literature at Hunter College in New York.

In June 1967, she was elected Secretary-General of Na'amat (Working Women and Volunteers Organization). In 1975 she was appointed to chair the Prime Minister's Committee on the Status of Women.

A Member of the Knesset since 1973, Namir has served as a member of the Committees on Education and Culture (1974-77), Public Services (1974-77) and Public Audit (Control) (1977-81), as well as chairing the Committees on Education and Culture (1977-84) and Labor and Social Welfare (1984-92).

From 1992-1996, Ora Namir served as Minister of Labor and Social Affairs. She was appointed Israeli Ambassador to China in 1996.