Gabby Ophir

Gabby Ophir was born in 1950 in Morocco

Gabby Ophir was born in Morocco in 1950 to Shlomo and Simcha Okret, the fifth of 11 children. As a child he came to Israel with his parents, and the family settled in the development town of Shlomi. At 13 he moved to the religious youth village in Kfar Hasidim.

He joined the IDF in 1968 and served most of his career in the Golani Brigade, rising from platoon commander to brigade commander. He was wounded in the Yom Kippur War and again in a raid in Lebanon, and took part in Operation Entebbe. He later commanded the Judea and Samaria Division, the Galilee Division and, from 1997 to 2001, the Home Front Command.

He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in political science from the University of Haifa. He is also a graduate of the IDF Command and Staff College.

In late 2001 he became director general of the Israel Airports Authority and completed the Ben Gurion 2000 project. Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz ended his term in September 2007. He then chaired the appointed committee of Carmel City from 2008 to 2009 and served as director general of the Home Front Defense Ministry from 2012 to 2013.

In 2015 he became president of Yad LaYeled HaMeyuchad, a group that helps children with special needs. He lives in Tel Aviv, is married and has 3 daughters.