As a result of the devastating outcome at the polls, the left-wing Meretz Party appears to be left with 3 seats, leaving veteran lawmaker and vehement secularist Zahava Gal-On out of the parliament.

Gal-On began in Knesset in the 15th Knesset in 1999, and has become a prominent voice for women’s rights and for secular legislation, working tenaciously against any religious influence in the workings of the modern state.

She even asked Meretz’s legal advisor if she can move into the place of the number three slot, Nitzan Horowitz, but was told this is not possible.

“This is very difficult. I must come to the realization that I will not be in the next Knesset. It is hard to come to terms with the realization that the left-wing peace camp has been crushed” she stated.

Party leader Chaim Oron stated that he remains hopeful that between the soldiers’ votes and the surplus vote agreement, she may still land a slot in Knesset.

In the meantime, there are some in the party calling on Horowitz to vacate his seat for the veteran parliamentarian, but he says he was elected to the third slot by the party’s members and then to Knesset and as such, he has no plans of accommodating the request.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)