Meretz party leader Zahava Gal-On early Wednesday morning announced she will be stepping down as party leader and retiring from Knesset in light of the party only earning four seats in the 20th Knesset. Gal-On accepted the responsibility for not reaching the party’s goal of six or more seats.

If she does leave Knesset it will clear the way for former MK Tamar Zandberg to remain in Knesset, for she was in the fifth position on the lineup.

It should be pointed out that following the tabulation of the military vote and some of the remaining ballots, Meretz may receive a fifth seat at the expense of the Arab bloc, which would then drop to 13.

Gal-On, 55, has been serving in Knesset since 1999. 39-year-old Zandberg serves as an MK in the outgoing 19th Knesset.

(The number of seats may fluctuate. The Central Election Committee states the final numbers will be released Thursday morning, 28 Adar).

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)