About Yehuda Shaul

Yehuda Shaul was brought up in a Jewish Orthodox family in Jerusalem. As a teenager, Yehuda studied in a yeshiva based in the West Bank settlement of Ma'ale Mikhmash. 

He began his military service in March 2001 and served as an infantry combat soldier and later commander during the Second Intifada until March 2004, with two years spent in the West Bank. 

Immediately after his service, Yehuda founded Breaking the Silence (BTS) – an organisation of veteran soldiers who have served in the Israeli military since the start of the Second Intifada and have taken it upon themselves to expose the Israeli public to the reality of everyday life in the occupied Palestinian territories – together with other Israeli soldiers from his unit and served as a co-director until 2019.

In 2020, Yehuda left BTS and together with Dana Golan (the co-director of BTS from 2009-2012) founded Ofek: The Israeli Center for Public Affairs. Yehuda currently sits on the BTS board.

Ofek (‘horizon’ in Hebrew) is an independent think tank dedicated to advancing a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ofek believes that only by ending the Israeli military occupation can the right to self-determination of Israelis and Palestinians alike be realised. Ofek’s vision is of two democratic states living side by side in peace. To achieve this end, Ofek conducts vigorous research, presents policy solutions, and undertakes advocacy in Israel and abroad.