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A politician, public leader, founder of the Ratz and Meretz parties, that represented the liberal left in Israel. Minister of education, recipient of the Israel Prize. Aloni grew up in Tel Aviv. As a young woman, she served in the Palmach and Israel Defense Forces and fought in the War of Independence. She studied law and worked in education. In the 1960’s, she hosted a popular radio show called “Outside of Office Hours” that dealt with individual rights and bureaucracy. Her political career began as a Member of Knesset representing the Alignment party, which she left in 1973 and started Ratz-The Civil Rights Movement. Aloni advocated for the separation of religion and state, peace, recognition of the rights of the Palestinians, gender equality, a welfare state, and LGBT rights. She also played a key role in the legislation of Israel’s Basic Laws. She campaigned for providing legal aid to the needy, and co-founded the International Center for Peace in the Middle East. She wrote books and articles in which she outlined her civic and political views, which were published in Israel and around the world.
