Ra’anana gets Israel’s first openly gay mayor

Eitan Ginzburg appointed to lead council until October elections after Ze’ev Bielski leaves to take up post of nation’s housing czar

Ra'anan mayor Eitan Ginzburg, February 2018. (Screen capture: Facebook video)
Ra'anan mayor Eitan Ginzburg, February 2018. (Screen capture: Facebook video)

The central Israeli city of Ra’anana is to be headed by Israel’s first openly gay mayor following a council vote Thursday night.

Eitan Ginzburg replaces Ze’ev Bielski, who was appointed by Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon to become the head of the national housing program in the Finance Ministry.

Ginzburg wrote on his website that he “wants to lead Ra’anana to new achievements, to make it the most innovative city in Israel.”

He will serve as mayor until October’s elections, when he is expected to run for his own full term.

Created with facebook.com/celebratepride

Posted by ‎איתן גינזבורג – Eitan Ginzburg‎ on Friday, July 31, 2015

Yesh Atid MK Yael German, who previously served as mayor in neighboring Herzliya, congratulated Ginzburg on his appointment.

“What a great joy for Eitan Ginzburg’s election to become mayor of Ra’anana,” she tweeted. “With all my heart I wish that he will remain in the position for many years, be successful and remove another brick from the wall of homophobia.”

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