Hadash MK Khenin to run for Tel Aviv mayor

 

 

Knesset Member Dov Khenin (Hadash, Democratic Front for Peace and Equality – Communist Party of Israel) announced today that he would be running for Tel Aviv mayor against current mayor, Ron Huldai (Labour Party).
 
Khenin will join the race on behalf of the "Ir Lekulanu" (A city for all of us) movement and will resign from the Knesset if he wins.
 
Khenin has been an Israeli parliament member since the 17th Knesset and is considered one of the most prominent and diligent MKs, focusing on "green legislation". Before he was elected to the Knesset, Khenin specialized in public and constitutional law and was active in the field of human rights.
 
"I decided to run because Tel Aviv-Jaffa needs an alternative," told Khenin. "The municipality's existing policy cannot be maintained for five more years. I love Tel Aviv, I was born and raised here, but I know that my city has some very difficult problems. There is a large group of people in Tel Aviv on whom the city leans on the one hand, and pushes out on the other hand. I am naturally referring to the young people, the students, the Arab residents and the young couples who cannot continue living in the city due to the expensive housing prices, which continue to rise. Veteran populations are also under pressure. Unfortunately, Huldai's policy is turning Tel Aviv into a city for the rich only."
 
"In order to give this city back to its residents and to offer an environmental and social-friendly alternative, I am presenting my candidacy for mayor of Tel Aviv-Jaffa," Khenin said.
 
MK Khenin told he "wants the city to remain a home for older segments of the population, young people and young couples who struggle to get by due to higher housing costs. From a public transportation standpoint, the city is clogged up and it suffers from a form of atherosclerosis," Khenin said. "Pollution is a serious problem, especially due to transportation."
 
"Ir Lekulanu" will hold primaries on next Thursday to decide on candidates for mayor and city council. The list of candidates will be closed as of midnight on Monday. Khenin, who announced his candidacy to reporters gathered at Meir Garden in downtown Tel Aviv, is one of the movement's founders.
 
In recent weeks, Khenin has been inundated with calls from those within the faction as well as others to join the mayoral race. Khenin, 50, is a married father of three children who was born and raised in Tel Aviv, is a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Israel and leading member of Hadash, Democratic Front for Peace and Equality. After completing his law studies, Khenin worked as an attorney who specialized in constitutional and public law. He subsequently finished his doctoral studies in political science and devoted his energies to environment policy.
 
 
Communist Party of Israel