Reversing Israel's chronic under-representation of women in politics

The City of Modi’in, Israel may yet see 50% female representation on its city council in the next election. Mayor Haim Bibas, speaking recently at an evening dedicated to women in leadership, said that he personally hopes to see women as fully equals in the local party lists in 2013.

“We need to hold Mayor Bibas to that promise,” the event organizer and panel moderator Yifat Zamir, Executive Director of the organization We Power, said.

But equal representation has thus far remained elusive in Israel. According to Zamir, there are only six women mayors in Israel, out of 154 cities and towns — that’s a paltry 3.8%. Out of some 3,000 members of municipal councils, only 300 are women. Modi’in has a 17-person city council with only three women on it.

“If you want to influence what is going on in your city, you have to be willing to sit at the table,” said Modi’in City Council member Levana Shifman, who also heads the Committee on the Status of Women. “We sit around and discuss the budget and make the real decisions about what happens around you — in schools, in parks, in business.”

As I listened to Levana speak, I thought, if Levana were to head a party, I would definitely consider joining her list. Definitely.

Read more: http://blogs.forward.com/sisterhood-blog/139490/#ixzz1Y1ftLumF