Women aren't afraid to run, money is the whole story | Dr. and Adv. Orit Rishfi (Lavi)

An opinion piece by Dr. Orit Rishfi (Lavi) arguing that the main barrier to women leading local authorities is economic, not a lack of courage. As of October 2026, only 14 out of 259 municipalities are run by women. The article proposes increasing funding for lists headed by women and lowering the threshold for expense reimbursement to remove the economic barrier.

An opinion piece by Dr. Orit Rishfi (Lavi) analyzes the barriers facing women running for heads of local authorities in Israel. As of October 2026, only 14 women serve as heads of municipalities out of 259, a figure that stands out compared to the increase in the proportion of women on local councils from 6% in 2000 to about 28% today. The article argues that the main barrier is economic: a campaign for mayor of a large city requires millions of shekels, and losing can become a heavy personal debt. In contrast, in regional councils, where campaigns are cheaper, the proportion of elected women is higher. The article proposes two practical steps: significantly increasing the financial incentive for lists headed by a woman, and lowering the vote threshold required to receive election expense reimbursement. The author emphasizes that women do not need encouragement in courage, but a change in the economic rules of the game. The article notes that Israel is committed to principles of gender equality under UN goals, but calls for immediate action rather than waiting for an ideal world.