Jonathan "Yoni" Chetboun (; born 13 March 1979) is an Israeli politician, businessman, and retired IDF Colonel. Chetboun was a member of the Knesset, where he sat on the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. During his active-duty service, the IDF awarded him the Chief of Staff Citation for actions taken during the Second Lebanon War. He is the CEO of Kanaf Strategy, a strategic consulting firm for companies and public organizations.

Biography Yonatan ("Yoni") Chetboun was born in Nahariya to French-Jewish parents, soon after they immigrated to Israel. His father, Dr. Israel Chetboun, is a senior cardiologist.Cardiology Clinic. Meir Medical Center, Retrieved 27.02.2016 His parents named him after Yonatan Netanyahu.Chetboun, Yoni, Facebook post, 06.06.2013 After his birth, his family moved to Netanya, where he grew up and attended a Bnei Akiva yeshiva high school. He holds a BA in government diplomacy and strategy, with honors, from the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, and an MBA in business management from the Hebrew University. He currently lives in Netanya, and is married to Ma'ayan, the daughter of Australian immigrants, with 8 children.

Military career

In 1998, Chetboun was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces and joined the Golani Brigade. Eventually, he was selected for the Egoz elite unit,Yoni Chetboun: Candidate for the Jewish Home Party, Israel National News Hezki Baruch, 22.5.2012 which specializes in anti-terror and anti-guerilla operations. During his service, he completed the infantry officer course and was a staff commander for Egoz during various anti-terror operations in Lebanon, Gaza, and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. As part of Operation Defensive Shield, his unit was tasked with surrounding the Mukata’a, the office of Yasser Arafat, then Chairman of the Palestinian Authority. Later, he became a company commander.

He was an operations officer for Golani Battalion 51 at the time of the Second Lebanon War and saw action at the Battle of Bint Jbeil.Asael Lubotzky, From the Wilderness and Lebanon, Koren Publishers Jerusalem, (2016). p. 59. . One of the casualties of Bint Jbeil was Major Roi Klein, a friend and commander of Chetboun's, who famously jumped on a grenade to save a number of soldiers on the battlefield. During the battle, Chetboun removed Klein's body from the battlefield and replaced him as commander. Chetboun was awarded the Chief of Staff citation for actions taken during Bint Jbeil.Medal and Citation Recipients in the Second Lebanon War in the Golani Brigade, Golani Brigade website He was discharged from active duty in 2008, but continues to actively serve in the reserves as a Lieutenant Colonel (battalion commander).Under Fire: Former MK recounts Lebanon War Experience, Hezki Baruch, 10.07.2016

Public activism

In 2009, Chetboun organized rallies in support of the IDF and the residents of southern Israel during Operation Cast Lead. Chetboun believed that in the Second Lebanon War, a lack of public support hurt the soldiers he led, and this encouraged him to organize the rallies.

In 2010, Chetboun founded the Ra'ananim Zionist youth movement. The organization was active in strengthening Zionism and Jewish identity among Israeli youth.

At this time, Chetboun also became a speaker for the IDF as well as schools, universities, and conferences, on the topics of leadership and decision making. He also began lecturing to congressmen about Israel's security and its place in the world order.New MK: Yoni Chetboun, Jewish Home, YouTube .

Political career In 2012, Chetboun joined the Jewish Home party and was elected to the 7th spot on the party list. The party won 12 seats in the next elections, and Chetboun became a member of the 19th Knesset.

In the Knesset, Chetboun was the Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee,MK Chetboun to Europeans: Time for 2-State Alternatives, Ari Yashar, 05.11.2013 and a member of Israel's delegation to NATO.MKs to Talk Iran, Syria at NATO Assembly, Lahav Harkov, 16.05.2013 He founded the Neighborhood Forum,Chetboun: Crisis and Hunger Don’t Just Happen Before Holidays, Guy Ezra, 21.09.2014 which promoted local grassroots leadership. In light of increased immigration from France, he started the Lobby for the Absorption of French Immigrants in Israel.Creation of a Francophone Lobby in the Knesset, Stephanie Bitan, 17.01.2014 He also founded the Lobby for Standing Army and Reserve Soldiers.

Chetboun passed a number of laws, including: Consumer Protection Bill: The bill made supermarket chains honor the full value of food vouchers if they were used within five years. Previously, some chains would take a percentage off of the vouchers.Gift Voucher Bill to Head to Knesset Vote, Gabriela Davidovich-Weisberg, 16.10.2013 Higher Education Council Bill: The bill cancelled the rights to student benefits for those who avoid military service.Draft-Dodgers Ineligible for State Scholarships, Ido Ben-Porat and Tova Dvorin, 17.11.2014

During the 19th Knesset, a bill was proposed to enlist ultra-Orthodox Jews into the army. Chetboun led the fight within the coalition against the bill, and provided the only opposition vote.MK Yoni Chetboun to Ami: ‘The Torah’s Values Take Precedence, The Yeshiva World News, 21.03.2014

On December 14, 2014, Chetboun left the Jewish Home party, and joined Eli Yishai's new Yachad party.Jewish Home MK to join Eli Yishai's new party, The Times of Israel, 15.12.2014. He stressed his belief in the fact that the new party could bring unity between all sectors in Israel and provide support for the periphery.Time to Come Together; Time for Yachad, Yoni Chetboun, 01.01.2015. He was placed second on the party's list for the 2015 Israeli legislative election, but did not receive a seat in the 20th Knesset.

On 15 January 2018, Chetboun announced he was running for mayor of Netanya in the upcoming municipal elections.Yoni Chetboun running for mayor of Netanya, Arutz Sheva, 01.15.2018 He garnered 26.71% of the vote in the city, coming second in the race.

Business career

In 2011, Chetboun founded Kanaf Strategy, of which he is the executive director.Kanaf Strategy , official website He give lectures to companies and public organizations around the world about Israeli security and decision-making under pressure.

Published works

In June 2016, Chetboun published a book in Hebrew titled Under FireUnder Fire, Yediot Books (Heb.: Tahat Esh) with Yediot Sfarim Publishing, one of the biggest publishing houses in Israel. The book recounts his experiences in the army, including stories from the field and reflection on the effects of service on his family life. It gives insight into the actions of Roi Klein and how Chetboun made decisions under fire in the battlefield. It also describes his ideas regarding Israeli security. The book is being translated into English and French with Gefen Publishing.

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