Otniel Schneller

Otniel Schneller was born in 1952 in Jerusalem

Schneller was born in Jerusalem on 28 January 1952. He was a member of the Bnei Akiva youth movement and held several roles in it after his army service.

He studied Jewish studies and social science at Bar-Ilan University and completed his studies in 1978. He served in the IDF as an officer in the Paratroopers Brigade and reached the rank of colonel in the reserves.

From 1983 he was secretary general of the Yesha Council. During his term he clashed with Jewish residents of Hebron, and he left the post in March 1988. He then headed the National Road Safety Authority in the Ministry of Transportation until 1996, and in 1994 he coordinated transport issues in agreements with the Palestinians and Jordan.

He entered the Knesset for Kadima in 2006 and served as Deputy Speaker. He kept his seat in 2009 and initiated laws including the brain-respiratory death law and the 2012 sanctions law on divorce refusal. He left Kadima before the 2013 elections and lost his seat.

He later helped the Trump administration draw the maps of its peace plan and supported it after it was published. He lives in Ma'ale Mikhmas, is married and has 4 children.