Minister Gila Gamliel reveals a secret from the past and what is the dream of her life

Ahead of the 2026 elections, Gila Gamliel (Likud), Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, sat down with us for a conversation about the main thing she intends to change in each of the key areas that interest 18-25 year olds.

Equality in the burden

"I had the privilege of being the first to promote the issue of integrating Haredim into the Shin Bet, and this model today is a successful model that is beginning to show its signs in the rest of the organizations. Based on models of this type, it will be possible in the end to reach the desired goal of equality in the burden. Today there is no law. There is no restriction. We can also draft everyone. There is no longer the illusion that existed of a small army. A large army will be needed – and in a large army, it is necessary that as many people as possible take part in carrying the burden. All sectors, including the Haredim. But the equality will start from a process. We will start these steps, and in the end, this is what will happen."

Housing

"First, there was the 'Mehir LaMishtaken' (Price for the Resident), which really helped a great many young couples. The percentage of apartment owners in the country is very high, especially for young people. We gave 90% mortgage – this opened the door for a great many young men and women. We need to continue with this, and those who should receive rights in the matter of housing are those who served in the army and did many reserve duty days, and that is what we tried to promote."

Education

"To be the Minister of Education – the dream of my life. I think that everything starts and ends with education. That is where we need to give all the push, to realize the potential of every child to the maximum. The existing system of coming and learning frontally, like 150 years ago, is not adapted. Today the children are very smart. The information is available, exists and is accessible. I need to give them all the possibility for tools for learning, for understanding that they are dealing with a changing world."

Cost of living

"Let's give a chance to the shopping basket of Minister Nir Barkat. I hope it will give an influence also to the rest of the places. But there are still many things that need to be done around this – we need to open many channels that will ease the public and open the competition as much as possible. The whole issue of parallel import, which is a blessed thing, eases especially on the customs. I am generally in favor of lowering a great many of the taxes. These are things that bring more money to the general public and allow it to consume more."

Personal security

"The whole issue of crime in the Arab society, we need to create here a comprehensive national plan, which starts from the kindergartens in the education system of the Arab society, into the entire infrastructure of employment, and put all the emphasis on the issue of crime, while severely hardening the punishment. We have advanced a lot, but not enough. It is necessary that in the police there will be an option for conduct against the crime families in the Arab society. We need to create here a body within the police that will have tools for much more focused and thorough treatment, that will be able to give the answer for the public and return to it the personal security."

One thing that is not known about you?

"I was a really good dancer when I was young – salsa, Latino."

Message to the youth?

"To come and vote, to influence. Everything is in your hands. We need to look at what we are changing for you so that the world will be much better."