If someone told you a decade ago that Israel, a country born amid conflict, forged in debate, and constantly reinventing itself, would be ready to pick a new woman prime minister, you might have nodded and said, “Of course… eventually.” But add, “maybe even a black woman prime minister,” and the room might have gotten a little quieter.
That silence tells us two things: one, people don’t like to be proven wrong, and two, they should be thinking differently about leadership in Israel. Here’s a simple truth: Israel is ready for a woman prime minister, and I’ll even argue it’s ready for a black woman prime minister. In fact, two leaders on the current political stage embody the qualities Israel needs next: Sharren Haskel and Pnina Tameno-Shete.
Sharren Haskel is a rising star whose career tells a story about Israel’s evolution. Elected to the Knesset at a young age and now serving as deputy foreign minister, Haskel has carved a reputation as a principled, intelligent, and articulate voice in Israeli politics. Born in Toronto and raised in Israel, she has blended classical liberal values with practical politics, advocating for individual freedoms, environmental protection, and human dignity long before such ideas became trendy talking points. She is not a caricature of a politician; she is a thoughtful, action-oriented leader who understands both Israel’s strategic challenges and its moral obligations. Whether confronting blood libel abroad or defending Israel’s narrative in international forums, Haskel embodies the blend of grit, grace, and moral clarity that modern leadership demands.
There is also Pnina Tameno-Shete, a trailblazer. Born in Ethiopia, she became the first Ethiopian-born woman elected to the Knesset in 2013 and later the first Ethiopian-born Israeli cabinet minister when she was appointed aliyah and integration minister. Tameno-Shete’s story is more than symbolic; it embodies history. Her presence in the highest echelons of government reflects the success of Israel’s democratic project: a black African immigrant girl rising to a position of national leadership. This is proof that Israel’s democracy is mature enough to embrace leaders from all backgrounds. Leadership is not a costume one tries on; it’s a vocation one lives on. Tameno-Shete has lived it. Her career demonstrates the capacity, resilience, and vision of women in Israeli politics, qualities any prime minister would need in abundance.
Some critics might say, “Sure, but is the nation ready?” Israel has been ready for a long time; it just needed leaders like Haskel and Tameno-Shete to arrive on stage. Israel is no longer a tentative democracy finding its footing. It is a thriving technological powerhouse, a diplomatic actor with global alliances, and a place where ideas are robustly debated in public, media, and parliament. For every skeptical headline about Israel’s future, there are five stories of Israeli women leading at the highest levels of science, law, business, and politics. While the world fixates on old stereotypes, Israeli women have already moved into positions that would be the envy of many older democracies.
Next chapter in Israeli politics awaits
Even the most loyal Likud voters would agree: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has earned his place among the historic architects of modern Israel.
After October 7, he carried one of the heaviest burdens placed on an Israeli leader, guiding a nation through war, defending its legitimacy, and navigating the world’s sharpest diplomatic storms.
Looking ahead to the 2026 elections, it is almost certain that the right-wing bloc will win again and that Netanyahu will continue to lead. He must complete his unfinished mission, securing victory after October 7, expanding the Accords, and working closely with President Donald Trump and other allies to advance the Middle East peace initiatives, including the long-term Gaza Reconstruction and 20-Point Peace Plan. But once those goals are achieved, Netanyahu’s greatest legacy may not be another policy but a person. Like Moses preparing Joshua, or Elijah preparing Elisha, he should mentor the next leader not merely to inherit his office, but to inherit his courage and strategic vision.
And perhaps this time, the next leader will wear heels.
Israel doesn’t need to wonder whether it can have another woman or a black woman as prime minister. The real question is: When will Israelis make that choice? The answer is: whenever the public recognizes that quality matters more than convention. When the electorate sees candidates like Haskel and Tameno-Shete not as anomalies but as exemplars of leadership grounded in Israel’s values of resilience, morality, and pluralism, that choice will not just be possible, it will be natural. Because leadership is not about gender or color. It is about integrity, courage, and love of country. And on those fronts, Israel’s women have already proven themselves more than ready.
So, is Israel ready for a new woman prime minister? Yes. Is it ready for a black woman prime minister? Absolutely. Not someday. Now. Candidates like Sharren Haskel and Pnina Tameno-Shete are not just ready, they are living proof that Israel’s democracy is strong, inclusive, and bold enough to elect leaders who reflect the full tapestry of its people. The only question left is not if it will happen, but when Israel’s voters will look at leadership and see brilliance in every shade. And when that day comes, somewhere in Jerusalem, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks (z”l) will be smiling, because the people of Israel will have proven once again that moral leadership knows no color, and democracy when rooted in faith can indeed produce light for the whole world.
The writer is a former NYC Supreme Court Investigator/Detective/educator in conflict resolution, restorative peace, and moral diplomacy. His upcoming book, Moral Diplomacy for a Broken World, is inspired by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks.