MK Ruhama Avraham
MK Ruhama AvrahamFlash 90

MK Ruhama Avraham-Balila of Kadima has announced that she will be leaving politics for the foreseeable future, and will not seek a seat in the 19th Knesset.

“I decided to take a break from serving in Knesset and to look for another, different way to bring my views to reality in the public domain,” she said.

“The Knesset is not making use of its ability to change social policy,” she charged. “The automatic government majority, and the blocking - inherent to the system - of any attempt to challenge the government on significant legislation, make it hard for Israeli lawmakers to express themselves constructively.”

Avraham praised the party she is leaving, saying, “Kadima is a centrist party made up of the best and most experienced MKs in the Israeli politician scene, and as such, it deserves to be a large, influential, leading party. 

“On a personal level, I merited to serve in Knesset for ten fascinating, challenging years."

Her fellow Kadima MKs expressed regret at her decision. “Ruhama is one of the pillars of the Kadima movement,” said MK Yuval Zellner. “Ruhama has done much in terms of social welfare and economics, and has passed legislation that residents of the state will thank her for for years to come.”

“I hope for Kadima’s sake that Ruhama changes her mind and returns to be one of the movement’s front leaders,” he added.