Avi Benayahu
Israel- Early Life and Education
- Military Service
- Political and Public Relations Career
- IDF Spokesperson and Radio Station Commander
- IDF Press Secretary and Retirement
- Post-IDF Career
- Academic Background
Early Life and Education
Avi Binayahuwas born on October 2, 1959, in the Yad Eliyahu neighborhood of Tel Aviv, Israel, to Syrian Jewish immigrants. His original surname was Jahati. From 1965 to 1973, he attended Bar Giora Elementary School and was an active member of the HaShomer Hatzair movement since childhood.
Binayahu continued his education at Shevah and Amal-Menashe schools from 1974 to 1975. Through HaShomer Hatzair, he became involved in the movement's branch at Kibbutz Lehavot Haviva, where he has resided with his wife Pnina and their three children since.
Military Service
In 1977, Binayahu joined the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as a conscript and served in the Intelligence Directorate of the Israeli Air Force. After completing his service in 1980, he returned to the kibbutz and worked in agriculture. He remained active in HaShomer Hatzair as an instructor and was appointed to cover the press for one of the movement's annual conferences.
In 1992, Binayahu was called back to the IDF and appointed Head of Media Outreach in the army's press unit with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He served as the press secretary of the Israeli delegation to the peace negotiations with the PLO in Taba (1993) and Jordan (1994).
Political and Public Relations Career
On November 1, 1995, Binayahu became Press Advisor to Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Yitzhak Rabin. After Rabin's assassination on November 4, 1995, he held the same position under Rabin's successor, Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Shimon Peres, and later under Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai (1996-1999). In 1998, he participated in the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations in Wye River, USA.
Following Mordechai's resignation, Binayahu joined the public relations firm headed by Eyal Arad and actively promoted the newly established Center Party, which Mordechai served as one of its leaders.
IDF Spokesperson and Radio Station Commander
From 2000 to 2001, Binayahu served as a journalist and commentator on military and defense issues for the IDF radio station Galatz, while also holding the position of Special Advisor of the IDF educational corps. In 2001, he was promoted to Colonel and appointed Commander and Chief Editor of Galatz Radio Station (effective June 1, 2001). That same year, he became a member of the Presidium of the Israel Journalism Council. He served as Galatz's commander until 2007.
IDF Press Secretary and Retirement
On August 7, 2007, Binayahu was promoted to Brigadier General and appointed IDF Spokesperson, succeeding Brigadier General Miri Regev. On April 7, 2011, he was replaced by Brigadier General Yoav (Poly) Mordechai, and the General Staff tasked him with a project whose details were not disclosed until after Binayahu retired from the IDF.
In May 2011, Binayahu was voted "Media Person of the Year" by the Israel Public Relations Association. Upon the conclusion of his military service, he received offers to run for Secretary of HaTnua HaKibbutzit (the kibbutz movement), as head of the Menashe Regional Council, or to be on the electoral list of the Labor Party for the upcoming Knesset elections.
Post-IDF Career
After his discharge from the army, Binayahu launched his own consulting firm, Binyahu Strategy and Consulting Ltd. He also teaches a course on journalism, public relations, and new media at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Academic Background
Binayahu holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Haifa.
