Israel’s only out gay MP quits politics
The only out gay MP in the Israeli legislature has announced that he intends to quit politics.
Nitzan Horowitz, a former television journalist was elected to Israel’s Parliament (Knesset) in 2009, making Mr Horowitz the second openly gay Knesset member in Israel’s history.
Despite winning awards throughout his political career, including the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award by the Israel Democracy Institute, he failed to bring allies to his party’s central committee.
Reports suggest that because he had failed to get allies into the 1,000 member committee, his chance of re-election would have been slim.
He is currently the only out gay member of the Knesset, and unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Tel Aviv last year.
Announcing his departure on Facebook, he said: “I love this land and I love you very much… We did many things together. We led battles, initiated progressive legislation, we fought for basic values: democracy, human rights, social justice and peace.
“In all the commitments and projects I took upon myself, I gave the maximum. The varied topics I dealt with touched many people: Fighting racism, [for] regional cooperation, fighting religious coercion, protecting the environment, pluralism and culture, and of course rights for my beloved gay community,” he added.
Going on, he said he would announce his next steps soon, and that his political values had not changed.
