Former Journalist and Political Advisor Orit Galili Zucker Dies at 70 After Cancer Battle

Orit Galili Zucker, a former journalist and political advisor, passed away at the age of 70 after a more than two-year battle with cancer. Her son, Eran Zucker, announced her death on social media, revealing that she died at Ichilov Hospital and requested no funeral or mourning period. He also mentioned plans for future projects to honor her personal and professional legacy.

Galili Zucker began her career at the Israeli newspaper Haaretz before transitioning to political consulting. In the 2009 elections, she served as a strategic advisor to the Labor Party and its leader at the time, Ehud Barak. From 2011 to 2013, she led the political communications team for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Afterward, she continued working in public and political spheres through independent strategic consulting and public opinion research.

Her son described her as a special, brave, and loving woman who had a relatively short but intense life. He expressed deep personal grief, emphasizing their close bond. Former government official Edna Halbani also paid tribute to Galili Zucker on social media, praising her intelligence and strong personality and lamenting that illness prevented further meetings.

Galili Zucker’s career spanned journalism and high-level political advising, influencing key Israeli political figures and parties over many years. Her death marks the loss of a prominent figure in Israeli media and politics.