Nachman Shai

Nachman Shai (Hebrew: נחמן שי‎; born Nachman Shaykevich on 28 November 1946) is an Israeli journalist and politician who currently serves as a member of the Knesset and its Deputy Speaker. He previously worked as the IDF spokesman.

Biography

Born in Jerusalem, Shai gained a BA in history and political science and an MA in communications from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he also studied in the School of Business Administration. He studied communications at the World Press Institute in Minnesota, and worked as a research fellow in the Shorenstein Center in the JFK School of Government at Harvard University. In 2009 Nachman obtained a Ph.D. in political science and communications from Bar Ilan University and his thesis, on "Public Diplomacy and Low Intensity Conflict", was awarded the 2012 Tshetshik award for national Security research by Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security Studies.

During his service in the Israel Defense Forces he served in a Nahal unit, worked in Israel Army Radio as its commander and chief editor, and served as the IDF spokesman between 1988 and 1991, reaching the rank of Brigadier-General. During the Gulf War of 1991, when Israel was targeted by Iraqi missiles, his job was to calm Israelis in sealed rooms. He is remembered for instructing concerned citizens to "drink water".