Likud offers vegans a new political home

One of the significant electoral reserves that has recently appeared on the radar of Israeli political parties are vegans and vegetarians. Data from the Central Bureau of Statistics show that among those ages 18-64 in Israel, 5% are vegan and 5% are vegetarian. These are about half a million Israelis — representing a potential 15 seats in the Knesset — who are aware and concerned about the suffering of animals. In part as a result of all the Israeli restaurants and markets offering vegan and vegetarian food, several magazines and newspaper around the world have crowned the country as the Vegan Nation.

In the 2019 campaigns, it seems that one party has succeeded in controlling the vegan discourse in Israel, by means of an especially vocal spokeswoman, the activist Tal Gilboa. In June, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu named Gilboa his adviser for promoting animal rights and welfare. The person responsible for this unique appointment was Yair Netanyahu, the prime minister’s son, who is vegan himself, and has befriended Gilboa.