Israel votes for change

Avi Gabbay was elected the 12th Chairman of Israel’s Labor Party, the second largest party in the Israeli parliament (Knesset), in July 2017. Prior to that, Gabbay served as Minister of Environmental Protection for one year, resigning in May 2016 due to fundamental ideological differences with the government. Gabbay joined politics after a long career at Bezeq, Israel’s largest telecoms company, culminating in his position as CEO from 2007-2013. During his term as CEO, Bezeq became one of the most profitable global communications companies, despite a dramatic transition into a competitive market environment. Gabbay resigned from Bezeq and business activities in 2013, and shifted his focus to public service. He became the Acting Chairman of the Board of Appleseeds Academy, a non-profit organization that brings technology to underserved communities in Israel and later joined the Israeli Labor Party. Gabbay holds a B.A. in Economics, and an MBA, from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is a native Jerusalemite and the son of Moroccan immigrants.The seventh of eight children, Gabbay was the first person in his family to be born in Israel. Today he is married to Ayelet, an immigrant from

Austrlia, with whom he has three children.

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Leader of the social-economic struggle for a just society in Israel. Has had 46 of her laws for the betterment of the public enacted. Former head of the opposition. In the past was a prominent journalist and writer.

Shelly Yachimovich (born March 28, 1960). Member of the Knesset from the Labor Party. Before entering politics, she was a journalist, a radio and television personality and a writer. Served in the IDF as a Women’s Corp NCO on the Hatzerim Air Force base, as a Adjutancy Officer at the Etzion Base and as the Service Conditions Officer of the Lavie Project. She is a graduate of the Behavioral Sciences (Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology) Department at Ben Gurion University. Daughter of a construction-worker father and a mother who was a teacher – Hannah and Moshe – both of whom were Holocaust survivors from Poland. Mother of Gal (22) and Rama (17), lives in the Kerem HaTeimanim neighborhood in Tel Aviv.

Journalist: Shelly was for many years a journalist and media presenter for “Al HaMishmar”, “Reshet B”, IDF Radio and the Channel 2 Television News Company. In these positions she often dealt with social and economic issues from a social-democratic point of view and on subjects connected with Women’s rights. On November 29, 2005, she announced that she was leaving journalism and entering politics, and that she would be a candidate for a place on the Labor Party’s list for the 17th Knesset. Was chosen for the 9th place on the list and after the election, became a Member of the Knesset. She was an outstanding member of the Knesset Finance Committee and the State Control Committee. Until 2008, was the head of the Special Committee for the Rights of the Child. In the Labor Party primary elections in December 2008, was chosen for fifth place in the party’s list for the 18th Knesset. In this Knesset served as the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee and was a member of the Finance Committee and the Labor, Welfare and Health Committee.

Is considered to be an outstanding member of the Knesset. She leads dozens of important struggles and has had 46 of her laws enacted, which are meant to protect the weak and the middle classes, close gaps in society and restrict the power of Capital. Among the struggles she has lead: the struggle to increase the gas royalties, the struggle to rein in the salaries of senior officials, the struggle to stop the privatization of State Lands, the struggle to prevent the privatization of the prisons, the struggle to cancel the Wisconsin Program, the struggle to reduce employment of contractual workers, the struggle against the tax exemption for “non-taxable income of international companies”, the struggle against privatization of the Hostels for Wards of the State, the struggle against the privatization of the Mental Health System, and others.

Among her laws that were enacted are: the Law for the Right to Work Sitting-Down (the “Cashiers’ Law”), the Law for the Protection of Whistle-Blowers, the Law for the Protection of Salaries, the National Health Insurance Law for Those who were Absent from the Country and have Returned, the Lobbyists’ Law, the Law to Lengthen Maternity Leave, the Law on Public Transportation Information, the Security Services Textile Law, the Flag Law and many other laws.

Chairperson of the Labor Party from September 21, 2011 to December 21, 2013.

Member of Parliament Stav Shaffir is the youngest female parliament member in Israel’s history. Now in her second term in Parliament, she chairs the Transparency Committee, as well as the Social Justice Caucus. In 2017, she founded the OECD’s Forum on Integrity and Transparency and chaired its first meeting.

Shaffir led a reform for budgetary transparency and strategy, exposed the government’s secret money transfers, and fought to end corrupt usage of tax-payer money. Shaffir is formally a journalist and peace activist, who became one of the leaders of the Israeli social movement that brought hundreds of thousands of Israelis into the streets in the summer of 2011, and became Israel’s biggest-ever protest – focusing on housing, social services, equality and democracy. Following the protest and in an effort to continue the change from within, Shaffir entered politics. Before the 2011 protest movement began, Shaffir worked as an editor for Yedioth Aharonoth’s website and studied for her master’s degree in the Philosophy and History of Science and Ideas Department at Tel Aviv University. She has a BA in Journalism and Sociology from City University London, where she was the recipient of the Olive Tree Program scholarship, a unique initiative for young leaders from the Middle East.

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Formerly Chairperson of the Israel Students’ Union and member of the General Assembly of the European Students’ Union. Among the leaders of the Tent Protest in the summer of 2011, among the leaders of the struggle for Equality in Sharing the Burden, leads the Students’ Union project in Lod.

Holds a B.Ed. degree in Special Education from Oranim College and is in the midst of his Masters’ studies in Public Policy, in the program for exceptional students at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In line with his outlook on life that young people too must act and be part of the change that they wish to see in Israeli society, he lived in Lod and led the broad program to strengthen the city.

Serves as a member of the Knesset Finance Committee and also of the Labor, Welfare and Health Committee. In addition, serves as the Chairperson of many lobbies in the Knesset. Among the most prominent of them: Chairperson of the Pensioners’ Lobby, Chairperson of the Lone Soldiers’ Lobby, Chairperson of the Lobby against the “Price Tag” activities and the Lahava organization, and Chairperson of the Animal Rights Lobby in the Knesset.

Led and leads many social struggles in the Knesset, among them the struggle for the integration of persons with disabilities in the occupational market, the struggle against the Water Corporations, against their cutting off the water supply for low-income families, the struggle for regularization of the Collective Nursing Insurance for pensioners, and the struggle for regularization of the standing and rights of contractual workers. All these and more gave him the title of “The Most Socially Active Member of the Knesset” for four year in a row, from the Social Guard Organization, and also the prize as the Outstanding Parliamentarian from the Israel Democracy Institute.

Former commander of Sayeret Matkal, founder of the “After Me!” (“Aharai!”) movement.

Omar Barlev was elected to the 20th Knesset in the 4th place on the Labor Party list. This is the second Knesset that MK Barlev has served in. Barlev is a member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and head of the Subcommittee for Readiness and Continuous Security, Co- Chairperson of the Agricultural Lobby and of the Lobby for Fair Pensions, the Lobby for Fair Housing, Chairperson of the Lobby for the Promotion of the Needs of the Bedouin Population and the Lobby on Matters Related to the Seam Zone.

In 1971 enlisted in the IDF and served as a combat soldier and squad leader in Sayeret Matkal. Among other things, took part in the operation to break into the Savoy Hotel, and in “Operation Jonathan”.

In 1980, graduated with a B.Ag. from the Agricultural Faculty  in Rehovot, moved to Eilat and started working at an agricultural experimental station near Kibbutz Yotvata.

At the end of 1984, after years as a civilian, returned to military service as the commander of Sayeret Matkal. In the framework of his service, the unit received the Chief of Staff’s Commendation for its activities.

In the following years, studied for an MA in International Relations and wrote his Master’s Thesis, which became a book: “Security Arrangements in the Golan for the Age of Modern Warfare”, which was published a decade later in 1999.

In 1992, he was asked by the Chief of Staff, Ehud Barak, to return to active military service for the third time and served as the commander of the Bik’a Brigade and thereafter, as a member of the negotiation team with the Palestinians on the “Gaza and Jericho First Agreement” and then on the Peace Agreement with Jordan.

In 1996 Omer joined the Labor Party for the first time and joined the “Peace Generation” movement that was founded as a result of the murder of Prime Minister Rabin. In the framework of the “Peace Generation”, he founded the “After Me!” (“Aharai!”) movement, to  empower youth from Israel’s social and geographical periphery and connect them to the Israeli, Zionist and Democratic experience. “Aharai!” is today one of the largest youth movements in Israel, and runs a broad variety of projects that every year bring some 4,000 young people closer to the center of the Israeli Experience.

MK Omer Barlev is married to Tami and father to Noam, May and Shachar.

MK Amir Peretz was born in Morocco, immigrated to Israel at the age of 4 and was educated in Sderot. Served as an officer in the IDF Paratroop Brigade. Was seriously injured during service in Sinai and was released from the IDF with the rank of Captain.

After his release, set up a farm together with his wife Ahlama on Moshav Nir Akiva. The couple has four children.

In 1984, was elected as the mayor of the City of Sderot and was one of the first development town mayors belonging to the Israeli Left.

Already In 1984, as opposed to the trend in Israel at that time, openly supported the establishment of a Palestinian state. Initiated and led an educational program in Sderot for promoting co-existence between Jews and Arabs.

In 1988 was elected to the Knesset, where he has served in various parliamentary positions. Over the years, has been a member of nearly all the Knesset committees, served as the Chairperson of the Labor, Welfare and Health Committee, where he promoted revolutionary social laws, of which the most outstanding were: the National Health Law, the Law for raising the Minimum Wage, Protection for Workers employed by Manpower Companies, the Ringworm Victims Compensation Law., and more.

MK Peretz is considered to be the one who brought social issues to the forefront of the public agenda and caused all the Israeli political parties to make them part of their platforms.

In 1995 became the Chairperson of the Israel General Federation of Labor – Histadrut, in the stormy period of social struggles, which brought about many achievements for both the working public and also for the weaker populations.

In 2006 was elected Chairperson of the Labor Party, which he led to achieving 19 seats in the Knesset elections, despite a difficult campaign against Arik Sharon and the Kadima Party.

Peretz led the Labor party into a combined coalition with Kadima, headed by Ehud Olmert. Together they established a government based on the principles of striving for social justice and peace. Served in this government as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense.

As Minister of Defense, led the reorganization of the IDF after the Second Lebanon War. He put into place a program of training that returned the IDF to a fit status, a program for rehabilitation of the Emergency Warehouses and together with the Deputy Minister of Defense Ephraim Sneh, established the National Emergency Authority (RAH”EL). At the same time, MK Peretz insisted upon and brought about the development and equipping of the IDF with the “Iron Dome” System. At that time, this decision was opposed by the Defense Establishment. In time, this became an important part of the Home Front’s defensive system, and a proud Israeli achievement in the eyes of the world.

Peretz continues to support the Peace Process, and the promotion of a solution with the Palestinian people, based on the concept of Two States for Two People.

In addition, he continues to promote many social issues as part of his integrated outlook that there can be no social justice without peace, and no peace without social justice. In his opinion, peace must come from within society, as a “popular” item and not something that belongs to the elite.

On December 6, 2012, on the background of differences of opinion with MK Shelly Yach , Amir Peretz announced that he was joining “The Tnua” (Movement) headed by Zippy Livne.

In the 19th Knesset, Peretz served as the Minister of the Environment.

In the 20th Knesset, Peretz serves as an MK from the Zionist Camp, Chairperson of the Subcommittee for the Readiness of the Home Front of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and a member of the Committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality.

Formerly a senior journalist and lecturer at universities and colleges on Communications and Gender. Founder of the “Ezrat Nashim” (Women’s Aid) group that acts to support the Aid Centers for Victims of Sexual Assault. A member of the Executive Committee of “Israel Initiates – the Israel Peace Initiative”.

Merav Michaeli – formerly a journalist and interviewer for the HaAretz newspaper, media personality and social activist and veteran feminist. She began her professional activities at IDF Radio (“Galei Zahal”), where for ten years she presented news and entertainment programs. After that, she founded the “GalGalatz” station and was a partner in the establishment of “Radio Tel Aviv”. At both stations she presented and produced a number of programs.

At “Radio Tel Aviv” served as the programing manager and thereafter presented the morning program at “Radio 103”. On television, she began as the presenter of “Mabat Sport” for Channel 1 and “20/20 Vision” (“Ro’im 6/6”) on Educational Television. In 1993, with the establishment of Channel 2, was a partner in the beginnings of Keshet Broadcasting, where she produced and presented “Friday Live”. Later on, presented a variety of interview, news and entertainment programs on various channels.

In 1997 established the “Women’s Aid” group, where she serves as the Acting Chairperson of the Aid Centers for Victims of Sexual Assault. Since then, she has been involved in a variety of social and feminist activities and organizations. Member of the of Board of Directors of “Israel Initiates” which promotes the Israeli-Arab Peace Initiative.

Single, lives in Tel Aviv with her partner, a dog and two cats.

Member of the Knesset since 1996, Chairperson of the Labor Faction in the 19th Knesset, Secretary General of the Labor Party, the Minister in charge of the Israel Broadcasting Authority, member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Chairperson of the Subcommittee for Readiness of the IDF.

Born on August 23, 1959, in Rosh HaAyin, to parents that immigrated from Yemen a decade earlier. Studied at the Midrashiat Noam High School in Pardes Hannah – 29th graduating class and also studied for a BA at the Hebrew University. Before being elected as an MK, he worked in the Knesset as an advisor and assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, personal assistant to the Chair of the Labor Party and professional and personal advisor to the Minister of Housing and Construction.

In 1996 began to serve as a Member of the Knesset, after the resignation of David Libai.

Cabel was also elected to the 16th Knesset, serving for a short time as Chairperson of the Finance Committee, and also to the 17th Knesset.

On June 16, 2005, Cabel was elected by the members of the Labor Party as Secretary General of the party. On May 4, 2006, with the establishment of the 31st Government, was appointed as a Minister without Portfolio, responsible for the Israel Broadcasting Authority. On May 1, 2007, the day after the Vinograd Committee’s interim report was submitted, Cabel announced his resignation from the government.

One of the most active members in the Knesset lobbies. In the 16th Knesset was a member of 10 lobbies (from among 44 registered lobbies). In five of the lobbies he was the only member: the Lobby for the Security Guards, the Lobby for Freed Sons – those leaving the Ultra-Orthodox Life, the Lobby for Residents of Tel Aviv, the Lobby for those voluntarily leaving settlements and the Lobby for promotion of Soccer. In two of the lobbies he was also the Chairperson. The other lobbies he was a member of in the 16th Knesset were: the Lobby for Soldiers in Compulsory Service, the Lobby for the Security Separation Fence, the Lobby for the Environment, the Municipal Lobby, the Lobby for Reserve Soldiers, which he headed.

In the 17th Knesset Cabel continued to promote many laws dealing with the environment, consumerism and more. Among others, he was a member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and of the House Committee.

Cabel continues to serve in the IDF reserves as a platoon sergeant in the Paratroop Reserve Brigade, even after having been elected to the Knesset. He makes a point of visiting reserve soldiers around the country and is the Chairperson of the Lobby for Reserve Soldiers.

Cabel was one of the heads of the struggle against Channel 7 and against the dissemination of the conspiracy theories concerning the murder of Itzhak Rabin. MK Cabel initiated the amendment to the State President’s Law, which says that a murderer of a Prime Minister on ideological grounds cannot receive a pardon for his crimes.

Married, father of four daughters, lives in Rosh HaAyin.

Deputy Chairperson of the Tel-Aviv and Central District in the Israel Bar Association, Chairperson of the District Committee on Criminal Affairs, and member of the Judicial Appointment Advisory Committee.

Born in 1967, to Yosef Maimon and Bruria Kastel, a scion of the Kastel family, who arrived in the country after the Spanish Expulsion. As a result of the 1929 riots, they left Hebron and were one of the founding families of the city of Hadera.

Married, mother of four and lives in Ra’anana.

Swid has been a lawyer for some 23 years, a graduate of Bar Ilan University with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Law. She started her legal career as an intern at the Tel Aviv District Prosecutor’s office (criminal) and in 1994 founded a leading independent law office in the criminal field. Over the years, and through a number of terms, Swid served in various positions, among which were:  Deputy Chairperson of the Tel-Aviv and Central District in the Israel Bar Association, Chairperson of the Committee on Criminal Affairs at the district, and member of the Judicial Appointment Advisory Committee. Swid has represented ‘pro-bono’ among others, victims of sexual assault and violence.

Swid serves as a lecturer at the Shaarei Mishpat College, at lawyers’ conferences and various public committees.

In addition, has voluntarily worked on public projects in her city of residence, as the public’s representative on examination committees for municipal positions and tenders, and was lately nominated as the Chairperson of the Property Tax Appeals Committee in the city.

On the eve of the Labor Party primary elections for the 20th Knesset, Swid reached a decision to concentrate solely on public affairs and ran for a place on the party’s list.

Saleh Saad serves as a member of the 20th Knesset on behalf of the Zionist Union parliamentary group. He was born in the Druze village of Beit Jann, where he resides to this day. Saad serves as chairman of the Druze Zionist Council in Beit Jann.

Saad held various positions within Israel’s security forces over a 12-year period. He is a certified financial consultant specializing in provident funds and advanced study funds, and has passed a securities and financial instruments course, as well as a senior directors’ course.

Saad has been a social activist within the Labor Party since the 1980s, with his main activity focusing on the struggle for equality and social justice. He is the representative of the Druze community in the party, and over the years has worked for the benefit of workers in Israel.

In the 1990s, Saad served as Histadrut national labor union local chair for the Galilee region, where more than 22 communities are located, including the local councils of the Druze sector. Saad’s activities have focused on the wellbeing of Israel’s workers and protecting their conditions of employment.

In the early 2000s, Saad was appointed head of the Division of Local Council Workers in the Histadrut, responsible for more than 30,000 workers from all sectors in more than 140 councils and municipalities. In this capacity, Saad led various struggles for the benefit of Histadrut members, particularly those who belong to minority groups.

As part of his work for the benefit of Israeli society, Saad has brokered agreements between workers and the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Interior and local government. Saad fulfilled his duties successfully, and at the same time he was also engaged in various social activities, with an emphasis on assisting the Druze sector.

In his work over the years, Saad has placed a strong emphasis on the issue of equality between the various sectors and equality between the center and the periphery. As part of his work, Saad introduced the idea of holding an annual meeting during the holidays of representatives of all the sectors, and having families host lone soldiers during Israel’s holidays

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Formerly Chairperson of the Young Guard of the Labor Party, Member of Knesset from the Labor Party in 19th Knesset and Chairperson of the Lobby for a Fair Pension and the Youth Movements Lobby. Member of the Finance Committee and the Labor, Welfare and Health Committee.

Has dealt for many years with informal education at the “HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed” Youth Movement, as a counsellor and coordinator of the movement’s activities in the Negev. During the years 2007-2010, served as the parliamentary assistant to MK Shelly Yachimovich. In 2010, Michal was chosen to be the head of the Young Guard of the Labor Party. In June 2012, was chosen for a second term as the Chairperson of the Young Guard, until 2014.

In November 2012, Michal was nominated to the 13th place on the Labor Party list for the Knesset. Holds a Master’s Degree Cum Laude, and is a doctoral candidate in Political Science at Tel Aviv University. Her specialty is Pension Policy.

Leah Fadida ben Shitrit was born on September 6, 1968. She is a member of the Knesset from the Labor Party, in the “Zionist Union” faction.

Previously, she was a senior official at Keren Kayemet L’Israel (the Jewish National Fund) and served as the deputy to the Mayor of Yokneam Ilit. Was nominated as a Member of the 20th Knesset on October 6, 2017, as the result of the resignation of Erel Margalit.

Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Adv. Moshe Mizrahi (61) was born in Tiberias in 1951 at the Scottish Hospital (today the Scots Hotel), the seventh of eight children. His father, Yaakov, died when Moshe was only 7 and survived by Bilha, the mother of eight – the eldest of which had just finished his military service and the youngest of which was just 3. She raised the children in an exemplary manner, in a one-room apartment in the “Ahava” neighborhood – the first Jewish neighborhood to be built outside the walls of Tiberias. The roots of the Mizrahi family are planted deep in the history of the Land of Israel, for up to seven generations in Tiberias and Jerusalem. The family was educated and raised on the values of modesty, morals and service in the defense of the motherland. Moshe was educated in the “Alliance” Elementary School and the “Galil” High School in Tiberias. In his youth, he was a member of the HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed youth movement.

A Family Man

Mizrahi is married to Sarit, whom he met during their mutual service in the Israel Police Department. The two were married in 1983 and have five children: Moran (26) served as an Infantry squad leader and is currently doing her internship as a lawyer; the twins Amit and Dvir (25) served in the “Oketz” unit: Amit is about to finish his combined studies in Accounting and Law, and Dvir will soon finish his Software Engineering degree; Tair (13) and Tohar (5).

Career in the Israel Police Department

In 1979, as part of an innovative policy by the Police to improve the investigative work in the field, Mizrahi was offered the opportunity to serve as Assistant Head of the Investigations Division in the Yaffo District, and thereafter, as head of the District Crimes Investigation Department. In these positions he found great satisfaction in that type of specialized work, which led him, despite not having intentions to do so, to a long term of 30 years of service, during which he led a long list of positions. Notable among them were: Investigations Officer in the Yarkon Region (1986-1989), Commander of the Yaffo Station (1991-1992), Deputy Commander of the Ayalon Region (1992) and Commander of the Judea Region in the territories (1993-1995).

In September 1995, Mizrahi was appointed to be the Commander of the Senior Officers College of the Israel Police, and dealt with the training of the future senior command of the Police Department, together with academic studies. He held this position until 1997.

Establishment of the International Crime Investigations Unit

In 1996, for the first time in its history, the Israel Police Department, under Commissioner Asaf Hefetz, undertook a strategic situation assessment process. Among the subject that the Police needed to be prepared for, were the implementation of community policing and its assimilation in the organization, and the separation of the Intelligence from the Investigations Division and turning it into an independent Division. A team led by Deputy Commissioner Ganot investigated and found that Organized Crime originating in the former Soviet Union had gained a foothold in Israel and many of its senior members, in one way or another, had found asylum by receiving citizenship and an Israeli passport. The team defined this phenomenon as a strategic threat to Israeli society and was convinced that the Police Department needed to be prepared for this. At the same time, Commissioner Hefetz asked Mizrahi to take upon himself the organization of a unit that would be designated for dealing with this phenomenon and with serious international crime. After some hesitation, mainly based on his return to the Investigations Division, Mizrahi agreed to the Commissioner’s request. Despite the lack of resources for establishing a new unit, in February 1997 he was given the National Unit for Criminal Investigations, which later became the International Crime Investigations Unit.

Mizrahi led the unit to a revolutionary organizational change, and turned it from an Investigations Unit into an Exposure Unit, so that it would suit its new designation. He created a dual-arm structure, which was innovative and groundbreaking in the Israel Police, and was later adopted by other elite national units. Mizrahi was the one who gave the unit its new name – the “Unit for the Exposure of Serious and International Crime”.

The War Against Corruption

During his command of the unit, a large number of initiated investigations in organized crime originating from the former Soviet Union were carried out: the Gregory Lerner affair, Leonid Wolff, Sharon, Ben-Gal, Gosinsky, Nimrodi – owner of Ma’ariv at that time, the David Apel affair, which later developed into what was known as the “Greek Island” affair, the Chernoy affair, Gad Ze’evi and many others. During his term of office, he led the case against the violent Uzi Meshulam gang. Meshulam and his gang disappeared from the crime map.

Mizrahi led the investigations against Avigdor Lieberman, while he was the Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office, and later a different investigation of Lieberman when he was a private citizen, shortly before being elected to the Knesset. While this last one was being handled as a secret investigation, a case was opened against Lieberman for threats, insulting a public servant and libel against Mizrahi. Despite the indictment that was handed down against him by the Attorney General, the Knesset House Committee refused to remove his immunity.

Head of the Investigations Division

On January 1, 2001, Mizrahi was appointed as the Head of the Investigations Division of the Israel Police. During his tenure in this position, and under his supervision, investigations of public scandals were conducted, which were primarily managed by the National Unit for Corruption Investigations and the International Crime Investigations Unit. Together with command responsibility, his tenure was characterized by budget management and leading organizational systems, technological systems and large computer systems. He commanded an organization of some 6,000 persons, which included hundreds of investigators, the Forensics Department and staff personnel. Mizrahi served as the head of the Investigations Division for four full years, more than any other Deputy Commissioner in this position.

The “Labor Now” Movement

In January 2011, the Chairperson of the Labor Party, Ehud Barak, announce his resignation from the Labor Party and the establishment of a new party – the “Atzmaout” (Independence) Party. Over the next two days after the resignation announcement, Erel Margalit, a high-tech entrepreneur, established together with Moshe Mizrahi and a group of outstanding partners in the private sector and additional business personalities, the “Labor Now” movement, that worked for the renewal of the Labor Party. The movement started a public campaign that called upon the public to register for the Labor Party in order to renew its institutions, update its ideas and bring into its fold central figures that would join the leadership and be among its elected representatives. In January 2012, Mizrahi announced his intentions to run for a place in the Labor Party list for the Knesset and was chosen for the 15th place.

MK Hilik Bar was the Secretary General of the Labor Party from 2010-2017, was the youngest person ever elected to that position and the first ever elected to be the Secretary General of the Labor Party before being a member of the Knesset. After Ehud Barak resigned as Chairperson of the party, Hilik took a crucial part in leading and rehabilitating the party during its most difficult crisis.

In the 19th Knesset, Hilik served as Deputy Speaker of the Knesset and as a member of the Education Committee, the Committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality, the Special Committee for the Rights of the Child and the Committee for Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs. In the current Knesset, Hilik serves as Deputy Speaker of the Knesset and a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Hilik is central leader on the subjects of Foreign Relations, “Hasbara” and Political Issues. In both the 19th and the 20th Knessets, Hilik has served as the Chairperson of the Lobby for the Solution of the Israel-Arab Conflict (The Two Nation Lobby), and as the Chairperson European Forum in the Knesset (EFK). In addition, served as the last Knesset as the Chairperson of the Lobby for Strengthening the Periphery and the Deprived Neighborhoods and the Co- Chairperson of the Apartment Renters’ Lobby.

Before being elected to the Knesset, served as a member of the Jerusalem City Council and held Tourism and Foreign Relations portfolios in the Jerusalem Municipality. In the past, he served as an advisor to a number of government ministers, and also as the Chairperson of the Labor Party Students’ Association at the Hebrew University (“Ofek”), as the Chairperson of the Labor Party’s National Students Association, as the Chairperson of the International Young Guard of the International Zionist Labor Party, as a delegate to the World Zionist Congress, and the Zionist General Council, and as a member and counsellor in the HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed Youth Movement.

Hilik has a BA and MA in International Relations with a specialization in Diplomacy and Foreign Policy, and is a graduate of the two most prestigious leadership programs of the American State Department in Washington (ACYPL and IVLP).

Was the manager of major communications systems in Israel and was an investigative journalist. His articles provoked wide-spread public interest.

Micky Rosenthal was born in Ramat Gan (1955), is an investigative journalist that dealt mainly with social and economic issues. Some of his investigations provoked wide-spread public interest. Rosenthal shed light on dark corners of public corruption, as well as harm to the weak, crony-capital relations and bureaucracy. Married and the father of three sons.

Started his professional life at the “Hadashot” newspaper (1983), was among its founders and the editor of the weekend magazine. Between the years 1986 and 1999, filled a number of positions at the “Yedioth Aharonot” newspaper, among which were deputy editor of the newspaper, head of the news desk, editor of the financial section “Mamon” and the daily magazine “24 Hours”. In 2002 presented the program “Bulldog” on Channel 8 – an activist documentary program that dealt mainly with environmental subjects, and since 2004, presented the investigative program “Bulldozer” on “Keshet” Broadcasting – Channel 2. Between 2005 and 2008, Rosenthal worked on the preparation of the film “Shitat HaShaksuka” and tried for the first time in a comprehensive manner to shed light on the method behind the crony-capital relations, through the story of the Ofer Family. The film, which investigated how hundreds of millions of dollar flowed from the public coffers to the pockets of one of the richest families in Israel. The film was shown on Channel 1 in 2009 and won many awards. In the past, presented together with Raviv Drucker, the investigative program “HaMakor” (the Source) on Channel 10.

Rosenthal has won a number of prizes for his work in journalism:

2003 – The Pratt Prize for his unique contribution in covering environmental issues

2004 – The Sokolov Prize “for his unique work in the field of combative journalism, for the principles of social justice”

2007 – Knight of Quality Government award from the Movement for Quality Government in Israel

2009 – “The Shakshuka Method” won the prize for the best documentary film, the investigative prize at the “Ophir Prize” ceremony, and the competition for the documentary creators.2009 – The “Ometz” award

Ayelet Nahmias-Verbin, Lawyer, graduate in Law from the Hebrew University and with a second degree in Commercial Law from the Tel Aviv – Berkeley program. Since 2008, serves as the Chairperson of Tavlit Plastic, a family industrial company that manufactures accessories for the water industry and is considered to be the leading edge in its field. Over the past 13 years, served on a number of Boards of Directors, including: Zap Group, the El Al Provident Funds, the Tel Aviv Financial Development Authority, the Fund for Natural Damages to Agriculture, Afcon Industries, D”ash Provident Funds, and others. In the framework of her positions, Nahmias-Verbin acts to strengthen Israeli industries, to strengthen corporate responsibility in public and government corporations, to promote fair employment of workers and to promote the employment of those aged 50 and over.

In the framework of her public activities and as the wife of a Lt. Colonel (Res.) in the Armored Corp, Nahmias-Verbin established the “Forum for Reservists Families”, whose purpose is to strengthen the bonds between the reservists’ families and the IDF. The forum was established from the understanding of the importance of the Reserve Forces and the importance of the family as source of support and giving strength to the Reserve Soldiers, so that they can fulfill their tasks in the best possible manner. At the same time, she established the Israeli branch of the International Women Corporate Directors, and she serves as its co-chairperson and she intends to continue to promote the participation by women in the decision taking centers. Active in voluntary activities at ALYN Beit Noam, that serves as a home for adults with serious physical and mental disabilities, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Yitzhak Rabin Center for Research of Israel.

She started her public sector activities in 1992, when she worked with Prime Ministery Yitzhak Rabin, RIP, and after his murder, served as the CEO of the “Shalom Haver” movement, that was established in his memory. For her public activities to assimilate the implications of the murder and education in tolerance, Verbin won a commendation in 2006 from the Prime Minister. Ayelet grew up in Tel Aviv, but her family roots are in Nahalal, Zefat and Salonika, and she is the grand-daughter of the mythological Sarah from “Café Tamar”. Ayelet, 45, is married to Ivri Verbin and mother of Yonatan (9), Assaf and Alma (3.5), and lives in Tel Aviv-Yaffo.

Ayelet is a member of the: Finance, House, and Children’s Rights committees.

Ayelet is the head of the Israeli Industry Lobby and Chairperson of the Israeli Family Lobby.