Uri Zaki, who chairs the left-wing Meretz party's management, on Saturday evening announced that he will run in the party's primaries, aiming to become one of its elected MKs, Israel Hayom reported.
Zaki has been a prominent Meretz activist for 20 years, and is the long-term partner of Environmental Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg, also of Meretz. In the past, Zaki served as Executive Director of the leftist B'tselem organization in the US, as well as chair of Meretz Youth and chairman of the party's presidency.
In a statement, he said, "My past as a right-winger, my background, and my lifestyle, have made me into a kicking voice for the Left, brave and unique. One who knows how to fight for the Left's path, and who accepts appreciation and support even from communities who are not among Meretz's classic voters."
"We must widen our circles of support, and that starts with choosing representatives who can bring additional audiences to Meretz's ideological path - those whose place is with us but who are still not with us. I know how to do this."
Zandberg announced earlier this month that she will be taking a break from politics, and will not run in the upcoming elections.
Explaining her decision, Zandberg said, "I gave my maximum to this journey. As a Knesset member, as party head, as a minister, in the opposition and in the coalition, I served the path and the public who chose me. I believe that I changed things and had an influence, and now it would be correct to vacate my seat to others who will continue it."
"The famous wheel that every politician aims to remain on feels like it is spinning in place right now. This is my time to get off of it."