Three openly gay politicians set to enter Israel’s new parliament

Three openly gay politicians are set to enter Israel’s parliament, the 26th Knesset, following the election on 27 October 2026: Amir Ohana, Eitan Ginzburg and Israel Zari. Mako reports this in a review published on 29 October.

The Central Elections Committee is required to publish the final results by November 4.

Current parliamentary speaker Amir Ohana is third on Likud’s list. The party is winning 27 seats, according to Arutz Sheva. Ohana became Israel’s first openly gay minister in 2019 and its first openly gay Knesset speaker in 2022. Mako also notes criticism from some LGBT activists who consider his contribution to advancing equality insufficient.

Former communications minister and Ra’anana mayor Eitan Ginzburg is eighth on Naftali Bennett’s Beyachad (“Together”) list, which is winning 12 seats. In the outgoing Knesset, he proposed a ban on conversion therapy for minors, but the legislation did not pass.

Israel Zari, deputy mayor of Ramat Gan, a city near Tel Aviv, is set to become an MP for the first time. The former spokesperson for Israeli LGBT association Aguda is 18th on Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party list, which is winning 21 seats.

For now, outgoing Knesset LGBT caucus chair Yorai Lahav-Hertzanu, 18th on Beyachad’s list, and Tel Aviv–Jaffa deputy mayor Chen Arieli, 28th on the Democrats’ list, remain outside parliament. The Democrats are winning eight seats. Lahav-Hertzanu could return later if seats become available on his list.

Mako’s tally of three openly gay MPs matches the number remaining at the end of the outgoing Knesset. The record was set in 2020, when six openly LGBT MPs served simultaneously.

Uránia previously reported on Amir Ohana’s third place on Likud’s election list.