Nitzan Horowitz announces Meretz leadership bid

Horowitz previously served two terms as an MK from 2009-2015 on the Meretz list and as a journalist for Channel 10.

By ARIK BENDER/MAARIV

JUNE 11, 2019 05:07

Nitzan Horowitz (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST) — Nitzan Horowitz

(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)

Former journalist and MK Nitzan Horowitz announced on Monday that he will run for leadership of the left-wing Meretz party, saying: “I decided to run because our free and democratic Israel is in danger and I will fight for this freedom. We have a second chance to correct what happened in the last election and to make a strong Left, and we must not miss this opportunity.”

Horowitz previously served two terms as an MK on the Meretz list in the 18th and 19th Knesset, from 2009 to 2015, and was a journalist for Channel 10.

“We are Left and we are proud of it, because we want to be free in this land, because it is the most Israeli thing to be: to be a free people in our country – free of religious coercion, free from discrimination, racism and occupation,” Horowitz said. “We have the opportunity to rebuild the Left. If we do not come to our senses and fix other forces, we will not have a ‘next time.’ Join me and make the change together.”

Horowitz called on the Left to unite ahead of the upcoming elections, and is leading an effort in Meretz to unite the party with Labor. He also wants to join with left-wing activist Eldad Yaniv, who organized the weekly protests outside Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit’s home.

Horowitz accused Netanyahu of “selling” out the Israeli public to the ultra-Orthodox parties, adding that “the ultra-Orthodox demand the separation of women in the coalition agreement; Smotrich and the Kahanists do not settle for annexing the territories [but] want to settle in our homes and turn us into a halachic state; and Netanyahu is the worst because he wants to abandon our children’s education to these people. Meretz, headed by me, will fight to the brink, not give up an inch, and lead the struggle to defend democracy.”

In a statement sent to Meretz voters, Horowitz wrote: “The party needs and can return to its high points, add additional forces and be the main axis of the Left in Israel. Meretz has excellent parliamentarians and dedicated activists throughout the country.”

Meretz will be meeting on Sunday to decide who will be eligible to vote in the party’s upcoming primary election.

Gil Hoffman and Jeremy Sharon contributed to this report.