Israel’s Meretz party becomes first to elect an openly gay leader
Left-wing group chose Nitzan Horowitz as its new head, defeating incumbent Tamar Zandberg
Israel’s Meretz party became the first to elect as its leader an openly gay person.
The left-wing party picked Nitzan Horowitz as its new head on Thursday in Tel Aviv.
Horowitz, a former journalist who served in the Knesset in 2009-2015, defeated incumbent Tamar Zandberg.
“Meretz doesn’t treat members of the LGBTQ community as fig leaves,” he said following his election. “We will fight for our freedom to live a free life and have equal rights in this country.
The new party leader said he would prioritise fighting religious coercion and supporting social justice in his new role.
There have been reports that former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who announced on Wednesday that he would form a new political party, is looking to form a coalition with the Labor and Meretz parties.
Earlier this month, Israel got its first openly gay government minister when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed Amir Ohana to serve as Justice Minister.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
