Naomi Tsur spent five years as a third-string deputy to Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, responsible for the ancient city’s urban planning and environmental sustainability files. But when she grew tired earlier this year of the backseat her policy initiatives were taking at male-dominated city hall, the Bristol-born 65-year-old jumped ship to start Israel’s first political party with predominately female leadership. Ometz Lev, which means “Braveness of Heart,” is running 10 candidates in Jerusalem’s October 22 municipal election on a platform of gender equality and urban sustainability. Eight of those candidates are women, and each represents a segment of the city’s religious and ethnic mosaic. Tsur spoke to Moment recently about why Jerusalem needs women at the helm and the difficulties in reaching female voters in a highly religious electorate. Why was it important or critical, even, to establish...

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