Next Israeli Coalition Could See Record High or Low Female Representation
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
An analysis by the 5050 Initiative predicts the next Israeli government could feature a historic high of 24 women if the "change bloc" wins, or a 25-year low of 7 women if the right-wing bloc forms the coalition. The Likud party is expected to see a significant drop in its female representation. Overall, the next Knesset may have 32 female lawmakers, a slight increase. The initiative urges voters to consider gender representation when casting their ballots.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- A coalition formed by the "change bloc" could see a historic high of 24 women serving in the next Israeli government.
- A right-wing and ultra-Orthodox coalition is projected to include only 7 women, a 25-year low.
- The Likud party's female representation is expected to drop from 7 to 2-3 members in the next Knesset.
- Ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism are expected to have no women lawmakers.
- The overall projected number of women in the next Knesset is 32, a slight increase from the current government.
- The 5050 Initiative emphasizes the election's impact on women's presence in decision-making roles.
An analysis of current polling data by the 5050 Initiative suggests the upcoming Israeli elections will significantly impact the number of women in the next Knesset, with two vastly different scenarios emerging based on which political bloc forms the government. If the right-wing and ultra-Orthodox bloc forms the coalition, it is projected to include only 7 women, marking a 25-year low and even fewer than the current government's 9 female members. Conversely, a coalition formed by the "change bloc" parties could see a historic high of 24 women serving, a record for the Israeli parliament.
The analysis highlights a significant projected decline in female representation within the ruling Likud party. While currently having 7 women, the polls suggest this number could drop to 2 or 3 in the next Knesset. This continues a downward trend for Likud, which had 10 women in the 23rd Knesset (2020) and 7 in the current one.
Deep gender disparities are also evident across other parties. The ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism are expected to have no women. Otzma Yehudit and Yisrael Beiteinu anticipate 2 women each out of 8 mandates, and Religious Zionism expects one woman out of 6. Arab parties are projected to have one woman each.
In contrast, new parties like "Yashar" and "HaDemocratim" are predicted to achieve full gender parity with 50% women, and "Achdut" is close to this figure. "Amcha Israel" and "HaTzibur HaHaredi" also show nearly 50% female representation but may not pass the electoral threshold.
Overall, when combining projected coalition and opposition members, the next Knesset could see 32 female lawmakers, a slight increase of 3 from the current number. Yael Yechieli, founder of the 5050 Initiative, stated that the elections will determine not only who leads the country but also whether women will be present in decision-making rooms, urging voters to consider the placement of women on party lists.
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