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][6][7][8] political activist, commentator and internet personality. He has worked for Rebel News since 2020, and currently works as its Australian Bureau Chief.[9]

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 along the border of the Gaza Strip.[9][10]

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.[11][12] 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.[13]

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.[14] He was unsuccessful, receiving 0.49% of the vote.[15]

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.[16]

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.[17][18] Yemini subsequently lost the case.[18]

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".[19][8]

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. ↑ McGowan, Michael (24 September 2021). "Workers' rights or the far right: who was behind Melbourne's pandemic protests?". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  6. ↑ "Far right activist Avi Yemini convicted and fined for assaulting ex-wife". Herald Sun. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  7. ↑ "Far-right conspiracy theorist Avi Yemini denied entry into New Zealand because of criminal conviction". Newshub. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  8. 1 2 "Controversial activist Avi Yemini pulls out of legal fight with RMIT over fact-checking article". News.com.au. 18 August 2023.
  9. 1 2 "Avi Yemini". Rebel News.
  10. ↑ Hall, Bianca (2016-04-08). "Jewish business IDF Training banned from Facebook after sharing anti-Semitic post". The Age. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  11. ↑ Hall, Bianca (2015-11-01). "Melbourne gym recruits members for Israeli army". The Age. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  12. ↑ "Self Defence Classes, Martial Arts Melbourne, Muay Thai Melbourne, Boxing Melbourne". www.idftraining.com.au.
  13. ↑ 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.
  14. ↑ "Avi Yemeni is joining forces with ALA" Australian Liberty Alliance
  15. ↑ "State Election 2018: Southern Metropolitan Region results summary - Victorian Electoral Commission". www.vec.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  16. ↑ Andrews, Jon. "Far-right political player Avi Yemini admits unlawful assault on ex-wife by throwing chopping board". Herald Sun.
  17. ↑ "YEMINI V ELASMAR - TRIAL". Supreme Court of Victoria.
  18. 1 2 "'Press freedom is dead': YouTuber's complaint after Supreme Court dismisses press pass legal fight". news.com.au.
  19. ↑ 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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