Meretz poll puts veteran MKs at top of list

Gilon, Freij, Rozin and Zandberg take lead spots behind party leader Zahava Gal-on in primaries

Members of far-left political party Meretz voted against shaking up the party’s Knesset slate Monday, leaving the top of the list nearly unchanged.

Party leader Zahava Gal-on retained her spot as party leader, followed by veteran MKs Ilan Gilon, Issawi Freij, Michal Rozin and Tamar Zandberg.

Gal-on hailed the party list going into the March 17 elections, saying it was the best on offer — “a left-wing list that isn’t ashamed to be leftist.” She said her party aims to win 10 seats in the upcoming polls, up from the six it currently holds.

“Ten seats for Meretz means a diplomatic resolution [to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict], eradication of poverty, and advancement of public housing and affordable housing; 10 seats will distance the right from the money and the funds for settlements; 10 seats and we’ll have civil marriages, and education for democracy which will return in force,” she said.

Following the primaries, the top ten Meretz candidates will be Gal-on, Gilon, Freij, Rozin, and Zandberg, followed by former MK Mossi Raz, Gaby Lasko, Avi Dabush, ex-MK Avshalom Vilan and in Uri Zachi.