Former Israeli Journalist and Political Strategist Dr. Orit Galili-Zucker Dies at 65

Dr. Orit Galili-Zucker, a former journalist and political strategist, passed away at the age of 65 on Sunday at Ichilov Hospital after a two-year battle with cancer. She began her media career in the early 1980s at Shoken Network and spent about 15 years as a reporter and editor at Haaretz. She also briefly worked in television as a correspondent for the Channel One news program "Yoman." In 1999, she left journalism to pursue academia, completing her doctorate in 2002 on the topic of "The New Politician in the Western Arena and Israel." She taught at Tel Aviv University and Bar-Ilan University, managing a master's program for senior political leadership.

Transitioning from academic work in political communication to strategic roles, Galili-Zucker served as a strategic advisor to the Labor Party under Ehud Barak during the 2009 elections. Between 2011 and 2013, she led the political communication team for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. From 2014 onward, she ran an independent consultancy specializing in strategic advice and public opinion research.

Her son, Eran, paid tribute to her on social media, describing her as a "special, fighting, loving, beautiful, and brave woman" whose life, though relatively short, was intensely full. He expressed profound personal grief, calling her the closest person in his world. At her request, no funeral or traditional mourning period will be held. Plans are underway to commemorate her personal and professional legacy through dedicated projects.