Horowitz says he’s stepping down as Meretz leader, will stay in party

Meretz party chief Nitzan Horowitz announces that he won’t continue in his role and won’t run for the leadership of the left-wing party ahead of the upcoming November 1 elections.

The health minister adds, however, that he is staying in Meretz and will take part in the primary for its electoral slate. He will also continue in his ministerial role until a new government is sworn in.

Meretz currently holds six seats in the 120-member Knesset, but recent polls have shown the party teetering dangerously close to the 3.25% electoral threshold, below which it would fail to make it into the next Knesset.

“I led the movement in three consecutive and difficult elections,” he says in a statement. “In the last election, contrary to all the polls and eulogies, we doubled our power. I am very proud of my and Meretz’s part in forming the ‘change government’; we formed a historic government that saved Israeli democracy and returned to the country’s leadership after 20 years in the opposition.

“Meretz is a democratic movement based on members and on an idea, not on one person. Party leaders are picked by its members, serve their role faithfully, and are replaced.”