MK Dov Khenin ‏(Hadash) announced on Friday that he is not running for mayor of Tel Aviv. Khenin considered whether to run against present mayor Ron Huldai (Labor party) for a long time.  A poll showed Meretz MK Nitzan Horowitz had the best chance of any candidate to beat Huldai. The poll, ordered by Meretz and conducted by Dialog, showed Huldai winning 50 percent of the vote and Horowitz 33 percent, with 17 percent undecided between the two. Khenin won 34.3 percent of the vote in the last election compared to 50.8 percent for Huldai. Khenin was the mayoral candidate for the Ir Lekulanu (“City for All”) local movement.

During his studies at the Hebrew University, Khenin headed the left-wing Jewish–Arab movement on campus. He was also active in the peace movement, pushing for a shared Jewish-Arab political partnership. Additionally, Khenin was heavily involved in the struggles for human rights and workers’ rights. For years, Khenin has been active in numerous environmental organizations. He also coordinated the Israeli research team that worked in cooperation with the Global WorldWatch.

MK Khenin during an Ir Lekulanu demonstration in Tel-Aviv (Photo: Ir Lekulanu)

In 2002, he was chosen to be Chairperson of the umbrella environmental organization, Life and Environment, an activity center for more than 100 environmental organizations. He was also active in a number of environmental struggles, such as the fight for the Ayalon Park, as well as in the struggles against the Safdie Plan and against the building projects in Timna and on the Palmachim Beach. Khenin resigned from his position as chairman when he presented his candidacy for the Knesset, running on the Hadash list.

Khenin has published numerous articles on the subject of environment, capitalism and society. He also edited the book series, “Signs of Life” which deals with these same issues. From the years 2004 to 2006, he served as the Academic Director of the Environmental Justice Clinic at Tel Aviv University.

Since 1990, Khenin has been a leading member of the Israeli Communist Party. On January 14, 2006, Khenin placed third on the Hadash list, and was subsequently elected to the 17th Knesset. Khenin is currently a member of the Internal Affairs and Environment Committee, and he also heads the Knesset’s joint committee on Environment and Health. Additionally, he served as chairman, of the social-environmental lobby, the largest lobby in the 17th Knesset. In the 18th Knesset, Khenin headed the social-environmental lobby together with MK Nitzan Horowitz.

MK Horowitz plans to announce Monday that he is running for mayor of Tel Aviv. Khenin choose not to run again with Horowitz in the race, as that would split the anti-Huldai vote. It is not clear whether Yesh Atid, Likud or another right-wing party will run in the Tel Aviv election.