Record 33 Women Set to Enter Israel's Knesset as Equality Initiative Calls for Further Progress
The 5050 Initiative welcomed the record number of female lawmakers while urging equal participation in coalition negotiations and government appointments.
By Hiroshi Ferrari ·
Israel's 26th Knesset is set to include a record 33 women when lawmakers are sworn in on Tuesday, November 10, according to the 5050 Initiative. Citing figures from the Choosing Wisely project, the organization described a milestone while stressing that its goal of equal representation remains unmet.
The announcement followed a letter from the initiative's CEO, Yael Yechieli, to party leaders and President Isaac Herzog. She called for equal participation in meetings among party leaders, the preparation of coalition agreements and government guidelines, and decisions on ministerial portfolios and areas of responsibility.
Yechieli wrote after KAN News reported gender disparities in parties that had committed to advancing equality. The report covered Yashar, B'Yachad, Yisrael Beytenu and the Democrats. The 5050 Initiative, which operates under the Centers for Social Justice, is seeking female representation of 50% in every Israeli political party.
According to the initiative, 21 of the incoming female lawmakers belong to parties with equal representation of men and women, including Yashar, B'Yachad and the Democrats. By comparison, Likud, the Joint List, Yisrael Beytenu, Otzma Yehudit, the Religious Zionist Party and Ra'am each have fewer than five women. The haredi, or ultra-Orthodox, parties remain entirely male and have never included women in their ranks.
The incoming group combines new lawmakers with women who have previous parliamentary experience. Eighteen will enter the Knesset for the first time, 13 are continuing from the 25th Knesset, and two are returning after having served in an earlier Knesset.
Several bring experience from senior public administration roles. Keren Turner-Eyal, Liran Avisar Ben-Horin and Tair Ifergan have held government director-general positions, the initiative said. Tal Ohana and Oshrat Gani Gonen have led local authorities.
Five others have served as ministers: Transportation Minister Miri Regev, Gila Gamliel, Orit Farkash-Hacohen, Meirav Cohen and Orit Strock. The initiative identified Strock as the only woman in the incoming Knesset without an academic degree. Among the 87 male lawmakers, 24 have not completed higher education.
Yechieli credited the initiative's work over the past four years with helping increase women's representation. She expressed concern about declining representation within the right-wing bloc, describing women as gradually disappearing, and said the organization was already looking toward the next elections.
Despite those concerns, Yechieli welcomed the presence of both male and female parliamentary partners who place a high priority on equality. She said reaching equal representation would contribute to Israel's healing process and expressed confidence that the initiative would work with those lawmakers toward that goal.
