The government confronting Israel’s fourth wave of the coronavirus differs greatly from the makeup of the governments that dealt with the previous three, with a new leadership and a record number of nine female government ministers — about one-third of the total. While low in Western terms, this level of representation is Israel’s highest ever and a welcome achievement in gender terms, enhanced by the appointment of nine women as directors general of government ministries (some under male ministers).
The age of the female ministers ranges from 38 to 59. Some have served in previous governments, and all head ministries tasked with civilian rather than defense-related issues. Ayelet Shaked, 45, of Yamina is the first woman to hold the post of interior minister. Karin Elharar, 43, of the Yesh Atid party is the first woman to serve as energy minister. Elharar is also the most severely disabled person to serve in government, requiring a wheelchair due to muscular dystrophy.
