Could Israel’s justice minister become prime minister?
Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked has been a popular Cabinet member, but as a woman in a small, right-wing religious party, she has many obstacles to overcome on her way to the prime minister’s office.
Israel's Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked felt confident enough to make no apologies as she announced that she sees herself running for prime minister one day — after the chairman of HaBayit HaYehudi, Education Minister Naftali Bennett, does so first, of course.
Shaked made her remarks March 6 at a gathering ahead of International Women's Day. She was quoted extensively in the media, not only because she revealed her political ambitions, but also because of her underlying assumption that Bennett will be the next prime minister, succeeding Benjamin Netanyahu.
The media's focus on the possibility that Shaked would one day be elected prime minister received even greater momentum from poll results released March 8 to mark International Women's Day by the website Walla! The poll asked which female politician is best suited to serve as prime minister. First place in the poll, which covered all Israelis (Jews and Arabs alike), was taken by Tzipi Livni, the Zionist Camp co-leader who heads the Hatnua Party and previously served as foreign minister. Shaked came in second (with 13% to Livni's 18%), but came in first among just Jewish respondents (17% to Livni's 14%).
There can be no doubt that this is an impressive achievement for the relatively young politician, who is 40. Even people who oppose her conservative views and her efforts to implement her positions in the legal system are forced to admit that she is made of leadership material.
