Left-Wing Israeli Leader Zehava Galon Quits Knesset To Build Party
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Left-wing Meretz Party leader Zehava Galon is resigning from Knesset.
Galon made the announcement on Wednesday, after meeting with Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein. She said she will dedicate the next few months to working to strengthening the party. She said she wanted to make the party open to new people and would help the party to achieve this by changing its internal election system, Ynet reported.
She will be replaced in Knesset by Meretz Secretary-General Mossi Raz. The party currently has five seats in the Knesset and sits in the opposition.
Galon, 61, was first elected to Knesset in 1999, and has served as chairman of the Meretz party since 2012.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday afternoon Galon wrote that she is leaving the Knesset with a “heavy heart.”
“I love the Knesset but I love Meretz more, and I know that if Meretz does not open itself up it will cease to exist. The left is a much larger audience than the number of people who voted for Meretz. To fullfil that potential, Meretz must change,” she wrote.
I’m personally matching all gifts to the Forward, up to $36,000. Can I match your gift now?
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
