Rafi Ben Shitrit

Rafi Ben Shitrit was born in 1966 in Beit She'an

Ben Shitrit was born in Beit She'an on 2 January 1966. He attended Tachkemoni school and the ORT religious high school in the city.

He joined the IDF in 1984 and served as a signals officer in the Intelligence Directorate. After his release he studied education and teaching at Oranim College but did not finish the degree.

He worked in youth education in Beit She'an and at youth villages. In 1999 he became northern district coordinator of the Bnei Akiva movement, and in 2009 he became head of the boarding school at the Neve Amiel youth village in Sde Ya'akov.

He was elected to the Beit She'an city council for Likud in 2003. In 2008 he founded the New Beit She'an list and led the opposition. He defeated Mayor Jackie Levy in 2013 and lost to him in 2018.

His son Elroi was killed in the battle at the Nahal Oz post on 7 October. In November 2024 he co-founded the October Council of bereaved families, hostage families and survivors. In 2026 he joined Israel Our Home and was elected to the Knesset in second place on its list.