Left-wing Meretz had always showcased itself as a party representing both Jews and Arabs. Still, many in the party feared recently that the party’s new Knesset faction after the Nov. 1 general elections won’t include any Arab legislator. Results of the party’s Aug. 23 primary proved them wrong. Israeli Druze lawmaker Ali Salalha was elected for the fourth (realistic) spot on the list. Concerns over Arab representation on the Meretz list had intensified last month after Regional Cooperation Minister Issawi Frej resigned from politics, at least temporarily.
The big winner of the Aug. 23 primary was former party leader Zehava Gal-On, who had quit politics before the last elections. It was an impressive political comeback. She won the support of 60% of the party’s members, defeating deputy finance minister, Knesset Member Yair Golan, by 20%. Golan, who ran to be head of the party, actually came in fifth. More dramatic even, outgoing party chair, Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz, came in seventh. Based on all the current polls, the party won’t get more than six Knesset seats, perhaps even as low as four, which makes it unlikely for Horowitz to serve again as a legislator.
Gal-On was visibly disappointed by Horowitz’s poor showing. She thanked him personally for everything the party has managed to achieve over the last year. “A big thank you to Nitzan Horowitz who brought Meretz into the government after 20 years in the opposition and achieved enormous things within just a year. Our goal is now to have as much Meretz in the Knesset as possible, and to join a new government of change," she tweeted.
The second-place winner in the primary was Knesset member Mossi Raz, who struggled to contain his emotions after what was clearly a huge win for him. The third place was taken by Knesset member Michal Rozin. As abovementioned, fourth place was won by Salalha. All in all, Meretz has a list with four women and four members of minority communities in its top 10, though it should be noted that most polls have the party teetering between four and six seats in the upcoming election.
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