Yael Dayan

Background

She is the daughter of Moshe Dayan and sister of Assi Dayan. Dayan was born in Nahalal during the Mandate era, the daughter of Moshe Dayan and granddaughter of Shmuel Dayan, both politicians.

Education

After serving in the Israel Defense Forces as a Captain in the Spokesperson"s Unit, Dayan studied international relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and biology at the Open University of Israel.

Career

Her service on the city council ended with the 2013 election. Between 1959 and 1967, Dayan was in a relationship with Michael Cacoyannis and lived in Greece. Dayan first made a name for herself as an author and newspaper columnist, writing columns for Yedioth Ahronoth, Ma"ariv, First Rate (at Lloyd's) HaMishmar and Davar.

Dayan became a peace activist, joining the leadership of Peace Now, and was also involved in Bat Shalom, the International Center for Peace and the Council for Peace and Security, giving lectures around the world on the topics of peace and security.

In Israel she has also campaigned for Human Rights, Women"s Rights, and LGBT rights. In 1992, Dayan was elected to the Knesset on the Labor Party list and served as chairwoman of the Committee on the Status of Women.

She was instrumental in pushing forward Israel"s sexual harassment law in the 1990s. She lost her seat in the 2003 elections, and left Labor to join Meretz with Yossi Beilin.

Until 2008 she served as Deputy Mayor and until 2013 she was responsible for social services.

Mayor Huldai chose not to include Dayan on his list of candidates for the 2013 election, effectively ending her political career.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Israel journal, June, 1967

    (hardcover book)

  • ISRAEL JOURNAL:JUNE,1967
  • My Father, His Daughter by Yael Dayan (1985-09-01)
  • My Father, His Daughter Hardcover September 1, 1985

Politics

Dayan headed the Meretz list in the Tel Aviv municipal elections in 2004, with the party winning 5 out of 31 Seats on council and joining Ron Huldai"s coalition.

Membership

She served as a member of the Knesset between 1992 and 2003, and from 2008 to 2013 was the chair of Tel Aviv city council. Re-elected in 1996 and 1999 (as a member of One Israel, an alliance of Labor, Meimad and Gesher), Dayan became chairwoman of the Committee on the Status of Women for a second time in 1999.