Women’s rights activist Lilly Ben Ami joins Avigdor Lieberman’s party ahead of elections

Lilly Ben Ami, founder of the Michel Sala Forum for the Prevention of Violence Against Women, has joined Yisrael Beiteinu, the nationalist party led by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. Ben Ami established the forum following the murder of her sister at the hands of her sister’s husband, becoming a prominent campaigner for women’s safety and domestic violence prevention in Israel.

The decision comes as Ben Ami seeks a wider platform for her advocacy work. In 2019, she previously ran in the Labour Party primary elections but was placed 22nd on their candidate list, a position that would have made her election unlikely under Israel’s proportional representation system.

Ben Ami’s move to Lieberman’s right-wing party signals a shift in her political positioning. Yisrael Beiteinu has historically focused on secular nationalist issues and immigration policy. The party’s leadership stated that Ben Ami’s appointment would help advance their vision for the country, with sources suggesting her expertise in social issues would strengthen the party’s policy platform.

Her appointment comes amid broader discussions about representation and policy priorities in Israeli politics, particularly regarding domestic violence prevention and women’s protection laws. Ben Ami’s forum has worked to raise awareness about femicide and domestic abuse, issues that have gained increasing attention in Israeli public discourse in recent years.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.