Sharren Haskel

Sharren Haskel was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to a Jewish family, the middle of three sisters. Her father, Amir, was born in Israel, and is from a family of Palmach veterans from moshav Tzofit. Her mother, Fabienne, was born in Morocco. Amir and Fabienne met in Paris and moved to Toronto, after Fabienne received a job offer as an English teacher. Her family moved to Israel a year after her birth. She was raised in Kfar Saba and studied theatre at Katznelson high school, where she was a leader in scouts, and later transferred to Ankori high school, where she studied Cinema. At the age of 18, Haskel enlisted in the Israel Border Police. According to Haskel, the Second Intifada, during which she served in the Border Police in manning checkpoints and attending home demolitions and demonstrations, narrowly escaped two suicide bombings on Israeli buses, and lost two friends to terrorist attacks, helped shape her ideology.[1]

Haskel being promoted to sergeant after completing her commander's course

After being discharged from the Border Police, Haskel studied for a year in the United States, and then lived in Australia for six years. She graduated from AVT Australia's program for veterinary nursing and worked as a veterinarian. Haskel completed her bachelor's degree in political science and international relations at the Open University of Israel, where she was active in the debate team. In 2014, Haskel won the Israeli National Champion Debate for Juniors.[2] She also an alumnus of the Jewish Statesmanship Center in Public Policy.[3]

She speaks English, Hebrew, and French.

Haskel lived in Australia for six years where she worked as a veterinary nurse in Bondi Vet animal hospital, and volunteered most of her time to WIRES, an organization that rescue wild animals, treat them and release them back into the wild.

She is active on environmental and animal rights issues, with a particular focus on water pollution coming out of areas under the control of the Palestinian Authority.[4] Haskel supports de-criminalization of cannabis, and is an advocate for medical cannabis usage.[5]

In 2013, Haskel tried to win a seat in Kfar Saba city hall. Although she lost, she continued to volunteer her time as an activist in the environmental committee at Kfar Saba city hall.

Prior to the 2015 Knesset elections she was placed 31st on the Likud list. Although she failed to enter the Knesset when Likud won 30 seats, she became an MK in 2015 as a replacement for Danny Danon following his appointment as Israel's envoy to the United Nations on 14 August 2015.[6]

Haskel heads the LGBT Knesset caucus, yet in 2016 she voted against the bills purporting to advance gay rights, proposed by Zionist Union and Yesh Atid: recognition of a bereaved widower in same sex couples, a bill banning conversion therapy attempting to convert gays to heterosexuals, a bill to recognize a same-sex marriage contract and a bill to train health professionals to deal with gender and sexual inclination issues.[7]

On 15 December 2019, Haskel endorsed Gideon Sa'ar in the primary for Likud party leadership.[8] On 23 December 2020 she announced that she would join Sa'ar's new party, New Hope.[9]

Sharren Haskel received high scores in 2016 and 2017 from the annual "Liberty Index",[10] rating Members of Knesset based on how their legislative activity promotes or suppresses personal freedom and free markets,[11] which is compiled by the New Liberal Movement (described by one of its founders as "much like the better goals of the Tea Party in the United States."[12]) In May 2016 Haskel was recognized by the Jewish Journal in the United States as a leader of new generation of women in politics, mainly for her extensive work around the world to defend Israel’s policy and government.

• Women in Israel

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sharren Haskel.

• Sharren Haskel on the Knesset website