Shai Hermesh (Hebrew: שי חרמש; born 23 March 1944) is an Israeli politician who served as a member of the Knesset for Kadima between 2006 and 2013.

A year later, in the Six-Day War, Hermesh served as a combat soldier in the paratroop brigade, under the command of colonel Motta Gur in the battle to capture Jerusalem.

In the Yom Kippur War in 1973, Hermesh was a combat soldier in the paratroop force that crossed the Suez Canal under the command of General Ariel Sharon.

In 1987, after two years during which he was responsible for growing and marketing agricultural produce for export from the Negev farms, Hermesh was elected mayor of the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council, a position which he retained until 2003.

During his time as mayor the council won the Gold Prize for excellence in financial management for six consecutive years,[1] which led to him being given the Knight of Quality Government Award.