Women absent from Israeli coalition negotiations

Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth has commented that women appear to be absent from the current negotiations for the formation of the new coalition government. On its Ynet website, the newspaper said that although 27 women were elected to the new, 19th, Knesset (parliament), “for some reason, none of the parties has seen fit to include them in the teams toiling away on the formation of the coalition”.

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Ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth learned on Monday that there are no women included in the political negotiation teams belonging to the Likud-Beiteinu bloc, Yesh Atid, Kadima and Habayit Hayehudi.

According to the Yesh Atid, however, their list has put women in key slots at all levels. “We see women as a major and leading force in society,” the party told Ynet. “Eight of our 19 Knesset member are highly accomplished women, who will be instrumental in realising Yesh Atid’s policies.”

The Habayit Hayehudi party also ruled out any suggestion that it has discriminated in any way, saying that its team was compiled using professional criteria only and that it has strong female representation in the Knesset.

Kadima told Ynet that its team in the coalition negotiations includes the two Knesset members, Yoel Hasson and Alon Gellert, and it will be expanded as necessary.” The same applies to Hatnua, said Ynet, whereas Likud-Beiteinu did not respond to requests for a comment.