MK Naama Lazimi Reflects on Global Recognition in TIME100 Next 2026 List
MK Naama Lazimi reflects on her inclusion in the TIME100 Next 2026 list, dedicating the global honor to Israel's social justice and democratic movement.
Following her inclusion in the prestigious TIME100 Next 2026 list of the world's most promising emerging leaders, Member of Knesset Naama Lazimi ("The Democrats") has shared her personal reflections on the overwhelming public response.
"In recent days, I have received hundreds of heartwarming messages and calls," Lazimi shared. "A childhood friend I haven't seen in a long time sent a touching message bringing back wonderful memories, a teacher I deeply respected wrote that she is proud of me, and a dear friend asked me: 'Have you paused for a moment? This is huge. Embrace it.' I am so used to the constant whirlwind—elections, political struggle, parliamentary work, public meetings, motherhood, family—that major milestones instantly blend into the routine."
The Surprising Announcement
Lazimi recalled the moment she learned about the selection: "To show you how surreal the experience was: my advisor Maya, who received the initial email, first suspected it was phishing. As I was leaving a parlor meeting in Hadar, Haifa, heading straight to a conference in Afula, I was told that something beyond even my wildest dreams had actually happened."
Fighting for Social Justice
Commenting on the magazine's rationale, which highlighted her impassioned Knesset speech on public housing and the broader defense of democracy, Lazimi noted: "TIME opened their explanation by citing my speech on the public housing bill, where I wept at the Knesset podium over the abandonment of public housing tenants and the fight against poverty. For me, growing up in a Mizrahi home in Migdal HaEmek, achieving everything through hard work, knowing what the periphery is and what state neglect means—this is an essential reminder that everyday life is what public service should truly address."
Concluding her remarks, Lazimi dedicated the international recognition to a broader movement: "This is not merely a personal win, but a badge of honor for an entire movement in Israel, a proud and determined camp fighting for the democratic character of our country. There is no social struggle without democracy, and no democracy without social struggle. We have an election to win—not for power, money, or prestige, but for a decent, safe, and good life. Hope will prevail."
