Women Hold Only 11% of Top Public Sector Roles in Israel Amid Declining Representation
A new report by the "For the First Time" center for women's leadership in Israel, affiliated with the Golda Meir Institute, reveals that women occupy a mere 11% of senior positions across Israel's public sector. The study, published for the first time by Yedioth Ahronoth on June 29, 2026, analyzed 566 key leadership roles including ministers, heads of local authorities, government ministry directors, hospital CEOs, and academic institution presidents.
The data shows a worsening trend in female representation across most sectors. The defense sector has the lowest female presence, with women holding only 6% of top roles. Similarly, women constitute just 6% of mayors and local council heads. In the professional civil service tier, women fill 15% of key roles, while in the political sphere, they represent 11% of all ministers. The judiciary and healthcare sectors each have 27% female representation in senior posts, but with contrasting trends: judicial female leadership dropped from 40% in 2022 to 27% in 2026, whereas healthcare saw a slight increase, partly due to recent appointments such as Dr. Michal Mekel at Rambam Hospital and Dr. Galit Kaufman at Assuta Ashdod.
Out of 86 top "number one" positions filled last year, only seven were women. Tamar Zeira, CEO of the center, described the situation as "very serious and worsening," criticizing the male-dominated appointment networks that perpetuate homogeneity in leadership. The current government has also seen a decline in female ministers and ministry directors. In February 2025, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that the government violated legal mandates for adequate female representation following petitions by women's organizations. Subsequently, the Civil Service Commission issued guidelines to improve gender balance, but the report finds little progress so far.
Looking ahead, Zeira views the upcoming elections as a critical opportunity for change. Forty-one key leadership roles are expected to open due to elections or term completions, and the center aims to ensure qualified female candidates are considered for these posts. She emphasized that appointments should be based on merit, not gender alone, but stressed the potential for a shift in the leadership landscape if proactive steps are taken.
Summary: A 2026 report reveals women hold only 11% of senior public sector roles in Israel, with declining representation in most sectors. Despite a 2025 Supreme Court ruling and new government guidelines, progress remains minimal. Upcoming elections present a chance to improve gender balance in leadership positions.
Points: ["Women occupy only 11% of senior public sector roles in Israel.", "Defense and local government sectors have the lowest female leadership at 6%.", "Judiciary female leadership dropped from 40% in 2022 to 27% in 2026.", "Only 7 of 86 top leadership appointments last year were women.", "2025 Supreme Court ruled government violated female representation laws.", "Upcoming elections could open 41 key roles for qualified female candidates."]
