Politicsיוליה שמאלוב-ברקוביץ'

Julia Shamalov-Berkovich

Yulia Shamalov-Berkovich is an Israeli politician and media executive who served as a Kadima member of the Knesset from 2009 to 2013.

born 1964Kadima member of the KnessetCo-founding Israel PlusHeading the newspaper VestiChairing the Second Authority

Born: 1 April 1964, Samarkand
Occupation: politician, manager, chief executive officer, public figure
Party: Kadima
Education: Tel Aviv University

Julia Shamalov-Berkovich was born in 1964 in Samarkand

She was born in Samarkand in the Soviet Union in 1964. In 1979 she immigrated to Israel with her family, who settled in an absorption center in Gilo, Jerusalem. Because of a paralysis in her left hand from birth, she was not drafted and volunteered for national service in a geriatric hospital.

She completed a certificate in journalism and television in 1984. At Tel Aviv University she earned a BA in sociology and anthropology in 1988 and an MBA in 1998.

From 1992 to 2001 she was CEO of the Russian-language newspaper Vesti. Between 2001 and 2004 she helped found the Russian-language channel Israel Plus, where she was CEO and editor in chief. She also worked as a marketing and media consultant.

She joined Kadima and entered the Knesset on 2 July 2009, replacing Haim Ramon. For the 2013 elections she headed the Economics Party list, which failed to pass the threshold, and she lost her seat.

In October 2017 she became chair of the Second Authority for Television and Radio, a post she left in January 2022. In June 2024 she was appointed CEO of Hadashot 13, an appointment its journalists opposed. She is married with 2 children.