Women Leaders Demand Equal Representation in National Decision-Making

Ten women who head local authorities across Israel convened recently in Ganei Tikva, initiating a call for an end to the exclusion of women from national decision-making positions. The meeting, hosted by Ganei Tikva Mayor Lizzy Delaricha, included heads of regional and local councils from various parts of the country. They highlighted the stark reality that no woman is currently slated to head a list entering the upcoming Knesset elections, pushing gender equality off the national agenda.

The participating mayors emphasized their daily management of cities and councils, overseeing budgets of hundreds of millions of shekels and complex systems affecting hundreds of thousands of residents. They asserted that this leadership standard should be mirrored in the country's national leadership.

The group issued a public demand to all parties and factions running for the Knesset. They called for binding public commitments to include explicit clauses on gender equality and adequate female representation in the foundational principles of the next government. Specific demands include appointing women to key economic, security, and social portfolios, as well as influential ministerial committees.

Furthermore, they urged the incoming government to pass a resolution within its first weeks mandating a target of at least 50% women in appointments for director-general positions in government ministries, public boards, negotiation teams, and policy planning bodies. "If a picture of ten women around a leadership table still seems unusual in the Israeli landscape, that is precisely the reality we want to change. The next government must look different," the leaders stated.