Avi Yemini
Born (1985-10-17) 17 October 1985
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia[1][2]
NationalityAustralian, Israeli
Other namesAvraham Waks[3]
Citizenship
EducationYeshivah College, Melbourne[3]
Occupations
  • Soldier
  • Reporter
EmployerRebel News (since 2020)
Political partyLiberty Alliance (2018–2019)[3][4]
Military career
Allegiance Israel
Service/branch Israel Defense Forces
Years of service2004–2007
UnitGolani Brigade

Avraham Shalom Yemini (born 17 October 1985) is an Australian-Israeli far-right[5] political activist, commentator and internet personality. He has worked for Rebel News since 2020, and currently works as its Australian Bureau Chief.[6]

Biography

Yemini was born in Melbourne in the Australian state of Victoria and grew up in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda East.[3] He is one of seventeen children.[3]

IDF service

Yemini served with the Golani Brigade in the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) from 2005 until 2008. Most of his active duty was spent in the Gaza Strip.[6][7]

Return to Australia

After returning to Australia, Yemini opened his first IDF gym in Caulfield, Victoria followed by a second in Melbourne's CBD in 2016.[8][9] In 2018, the gyms were sold to a private buyer.

One of his brothers, Manny Waks, sued Yemini for defamation following claims by Yemini that Waks and their father were harbouring a known paedophile in the family home.[10]

On 4 March 2018, Yemini joined the Australian Liberty Alliance to run as a candidate for the Southern Metropolitan Region at the 2018 Victorian state election.[11] He was unsuccessful, receiving 0.49% of the vote.[12]

In July 2019, Yemini admitted he threw a chopping board that hit his former wife on her forehead. He also pleaded guilty to using a carriage service to harass by sending abusive text messages to her, and one charge of breaching an intervention order relating to a video of a man. Yemini's lawyer argued he did not mean to hit her.[13]

In 2021, Yemini took legal action against three Victorian parliamentary officials - including former Legislative Assembly speaker Colin Brooks - after he was denied media accreditation in July of that year.[14][15] Yemini subsequently lost the case.[15]

In 2023 he sued Facebook fact-checkers RMIT for labeling Rebel News content as "misleading". The case was dismissed as he had "failed to make any formal inquiries via appropriate channels with relevant persons".[16][5]

References

  1. ↑ Surkes, Sue (14 March 2017). "Caller threatens to kill Melbourne Jewish gym owner". The Times of Israel. An anonymous caller threatened Tuesday to shoot an Australian-born Jewish gym owner in the head and told him to leave the country.
  2. ↑ "Avi Yemini joins Rebel News". Rebel News. 4 September 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Elliott, Tim (18 February 2023). "'He's exploiting people who are genuinely scared': Avi Yemini and the art of outrage". The Age.
  4. ↑ Martin, Lisa (15 November 2018). "Victorian Liberal party candidate asked to resign over 'anti-Muslim' video". Guardian Australia.
  5. 1 2 "Controversial activist Avi Yemini pulls out of legal fight with RMIT over fact-checking article". News.com.au. 18 August 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Avi Yemini". Rebel News.
  7. ↑ Hall, Bianca (2016-04-08). "Jewish business IDF Training banned from Facebook after sharing anti-Semitic post". The Age. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  8. ↑ Hall, Bianca (2015-11-01). "Melbourne gym recruits members for Israeli army". The Age. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  9. ↑ "Self Defence Classes, Martial Arts Melbourne, Muay Thai Melbourne, Boxing Melbourne". www.idftraining.com.au.
  10. ↑ Hall, Bianca (2016-09-27). "Manny Waks sues brother for defamation over 'harbouring paedophile' claims". The Age. Archived from the original on 2017-12-22. Retrieved 2017-12-22.
  11. ↑ "Avi Yemeni is joining forces with ALA" Australian Liberty Alliance
  12. ↑ "State Election 2018: Southern Metropolitan Region results summary - Victorian Electoral Commission". www.vec.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  13. ↑ Andrews, Jon. "Far-right political player Avi Yemini admits unlawful assault on ex-wife by throwing chopping board". Herald Sun.
  14. ↑ "YEMINI V ELASMAR - TRIAL". Supreme Court of Victoria.
  15. 1 2 "'Press freedom is dead': YouTuber's complaint after Supreme Court dismisses press pass legal fight". news.com.au.
  16. ↑ Sibthorpe, Clare (18 August 2023). "Controversial activist Avi Yemini pulls out of legal fight with RMIT over fact-checking article". news.com.au.
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