Israeli Knesset Poised for Record Female Representation Amidst Leadership Gaps
Four recent Israeli polls suggest the upcoming 26th Knesset could see a record number of women elected on election day, with projections ranging from 32 to 34 female lawmakers, representing 26.7% to 28.3% of the 120 members. This would mark an improvement from the 25th Knesset, which elected 29 women (24.2%). However, this potential increase in numbers is juxtaposed with a significant decline in female political leadership, as no major party is projected to be headed by a woman for the first time in two decades. The last time all party leaders entering the Knesset were men was in 2006.
The article highlights that while the overall number of women may rise, their political vulnerability remains a concern. Projections indicate that only 35%-39% of the current female Knesset members are likely to be re-elected, compared to 58%-62% of their male counterparts. This lower re-election rate for women is attributed to their concentration in less secure positions on party lists, making them more susceptible to being left out of the Knesset if a party's mandate count decreases.
Disparities are evident across party lines. The Likud party, a major faction, is projected to have a lower percentage of women (15%) than in the previous election, with only three women in realistically electable positions out of a projected 20 mandates. Conversely, parties like the Democrats and Yisrael Beiteinu are expected to have a significantly higher representation of women, potentially around 48% of their respective factions. The Arab parties show mixed results, with the Joint List potentially failing to elect any women if they secure only seven mandates, while the Arab party Ra'am faces a similar challenge with its sole female candidate in a precarious position.
Notably, the ultra-Orthodox parties continue their complete exclusion of women from their electoral lists, meaning their projected 14-15 mandates will be held entirely by men. This creates a paradox where the Knesset could achieve a record number of female representatives on election day, yet simultaneously feature entire factions without any women and a political landscape devoid of female party leaders.
