Eli Marom

Eli Marom was born in 1955 in Sde Eliezer

Marom was born in 1955 on moshav Sde Eliezer in the Hula Valley and was named after it. His father Erik was a German-born Jew and his mother Leah was born in China. His parents met in China after his father fled Europe, and the family immigrated to Israel in 1955.

He studied at the naval officers school in Akko, where a commander gave him the nickname Chayni. He later attended the National Defense College and a Harvard business program, and earned an MA in social sciences from Haifa University.

He joined the Navy in 1975 as an engine officer and served mostly on ships, including command of the missile boat INS Atzmaut and the missile boat flotilla. In 2007 he became Commander of the Navy. He led the Navy during Operation Cast Lead and the 2010 Gaza flotilla raid, in which 9 passengers were killed.

After leaving the army in 2011 he worked as a strategic consultant and in private business. He chaired the Israel Airports Authority from 2015. He was questioned in the submarine affair, and in May 2021 the case against him was closed.

In June 2024 he was appointed project director for the north, and he resigned in December 2024. He is married to Ora and has 3 children.