Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership
Israel Parties

Also see Israel Ministers

1949-51 Party Chairperson of WIZO party Rachel Cohen-Kagan
One of only two women to sign the Declaration of Independence. Founding member of WIZO movement and Israeli chairperson 1951-61. Headed the Social Welfare department in the Vaad Leumi (provisional government under British Mandate) 1946-48. Mother of two. Lived (1888–1982).

1949-51 Party Whip of Mapai party Yehudit Simhoni
Mapai Party is today known as the Labour Party. She emigrated from Ukraine in 1921. Volunteered to the women corps and served as Major, 1948-49. Mother of three. Lived (1902–1991).

1949 Party Chairperson of Poelet Datit (Religious worker) Tova Sanhedrai
1960's/1970's Group Chairperson of the NRP (National Religious Party) in the Knesset
Deputy Speaker of the Knesset 1963-73

1960's Group Chairperson of the Ahdut HaAvoda party in the Knesset Ruth Haktin
Deputy Speaker of the Knesset 1965-69. She lived (1901-91).

1965-69 Secretary General of the Labour Party Golda Meïr
1967-74 Party Chairperson
Ambassador, Minister of Labour, Foreign Affairs and Premier Minister

1965-69 Group Chairperson of the Mapam party (United Worker’s Union) Emma Levin Talmi
At the same time Deputy Speaker of the Knesset.

1969-73 Group chairperson of Herut party in the Knesset Esther Raziel-Naor
Member of the underground Etzel movement. Herut party is today known as the Likud party. MK 1949-74. Mother of three. Lived (1911-2002).

1973-97 Chairperson of Ratz (Civil Right's Party) Shulamit Aloni
1993-96 Chairperson of Meretz (The leftwing Alliance)
She held a number of ministerial posts

1977-81 and 1984-88 Group Chairperson of Mapam Party in the Knesset Haika Grossman-Orkin
She was also Deputy Speaker of Knesset.

1977 Chairperson of Women Rights party, Shoshana Elings
List was established by feminist MK Marcia Friedman. The list was not elected to Knesset. (d. 2006).

1978-92 Co-Leader of Tehiya (Zionist Revival Movement) Geula Cohen
Former Vice-Minister

1981 Leader of a Retirees party Miriam Gahatia
She led the party in the elections, but the list was not elected to Knesset

1982-88 Whip of the Labour Party Edna Solodar
1984-88 Joint Whip of the Coalition Parties
Co-Secretary General of the Kibbutz movement 1972-76. (b. 1930-)..

Before 1983/or 1988-91 Group Chairperson of Likud in the Knesset Sara Doron
Former Minister

1993-.. Chairperson of Yemin Yisrael Party Miriam Lapid
Was not elected to Knesset. Mother of Fifteen. Widowed in a terror attack.

1996-2006 Chairperson of Gil (Retirees Party) Nava Arad
2006- Secretary General of the Party
Nava Arad was a Labor MK in the past and the Prime Minister’s Advisor on Women’s issues. This attempt of a Retirees party did not succeed. The list was not elected to Knesset until 2006 when it surprisingly won 7 seats. (b. 1938-)

1997- Secretary General of the Environmentalist Green Party Hadas Shahnai
Member of Tel Aviv City Council (b. 1964)

1998-2001 Chairperson of The Pnina Rosenblum Party (or Tnufa) Pnina Rosenblum
A women's issues anti-violence party founded by cosmetics figure. The list was not elected to the Knesset. She later joined the Likud party and was an MP 2005-06. (b. 1954)

1999 Chairperson of the Yesh Party Prof. Esther Herzog
Yesh was formed in 1992 by three women in leading academic and municipal positions. "Yesh" is a acronym in Hebrew for equal representation. The party withdrew from the race due to financial difficulties.

1999- Party Chairperson of the Organization for Democratic Action (ODA) Isma Agbarya
She is an Arab-Israeli. Not elected to the Knesset. (b. 1974)

1999 Chairperson of the Negev Party Rina Ramot
Representing the southern area of Israel. It was not elected to Knesset.

1994-97 Secretary General of the Ratz Party Zehava Gal-On
1997-99 Member of the Secretary General's Council of the Meretz Party
1999- Group Chairperson of Meretz and the Democratic Choice in the Knesset
(b. 1956-).

Until 2000 Council Chairperson of Meimad Party Tova Ilan
2006- Acting Council Chairpseon
She served briefly as MK in 2006. Meimad is a Social Religious Party. (b. 1929)

2000-03 Group Chairperson of Israel BaAliyah in the Knesset Dr. Marina Solodkin
Former Deputy Minister.

2000-04 Secretary General of the Meretz Party Michal Shohat
Former member of Jerusalem city council.

2000’s Chairperson of Yemin Yisrael Party Eleonora Shifrin
Was not elected to Knesset.

2000’s General Manager of the National Union Party Larisa Gerstein
Member of Jerusalem city council and former Deputy Mayor.

2001-03 Group Chairperson of the Center Party in the Knesset Nehama Ronen
Director General in Ministry of Environment 1996-99. Merged with Center Party in 1999 as Chairperson of Enviromentalist ”Kol HaSviva” Party. (b. 1961-).

Before 2003 General Manager of the Israel Beytenu party Ludmila Grossman

2003-05 Group Chairperson of Labour Party in the Knesset Dalia Itzik
Minister several times and Speaker of the Knesset from 2006.

2003- General Manager of the Israel Beitenu party Faina Kirshenbaum

2005-06 General Manager of the Shinui Party Aliza Folger-Galili

2006-07 Group Chairperson of the Israel Beitenu Party in the Knesset Esterina Tartman
Designate Minister of Tourism in 2007.



 

 Last update 25.07.07