Who they are
Born in 1971 on Moshav Neve Yamin to Greek Holocaust survivors who were among its founders, Gani Gonen served as an IDF education officer and holds degrees from Beit Berl and Tel Aviv University. Her whole career is local government: from youth coordinator at Drom HaSharon in 1993, through two decades at Kfar Saba, ending as the city's chief executive, before resigning in 2018 to run for the regional council. She won 77.8 percent and became the first woman ever to head it, and was re-elected in 2024 with over 93. She is known nationally for a string of battles defending open and agricultural land in the centre of the country, and has not resigned her council seat.
Positions and record
The rural space: Wrote that urban construction is trampling the countryside rather than cooperating with it, and calls the planning profligate and unwise.
Local government: Says the time has come to connect action from the ground with decision-making nationally.
Women in leadership: Argues women should not have to choose between motherhood and career, and that gender discrimination in politics persists.
Where they stand
Holds the party line on every issue.