16 Facts About Ilan Gilon

Ilan Gilon served as a member of the Knesset for the Meretz and the Democratic Union alliance in three spells between 1999 and 2021.

Ilan Gilon made aliyah to Israel with his family at age nine and grew up in Ashdod.

Ilan Gilon studied international relations and political science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, but did not complete his studies.

Ilan Gilon devoted most of his activity in the Knesset to social affairs, as part of his ideology, which he calls "Orthopedic Socialism".

Ilan Gilon was a member of the committees on the Economy, Interior and Environmental Affairs, Child's Rights, Labor, Welfare and Health and the special committee to the problem of Foreign Workers.

Ilan Gilon was the only Meretz MK to vote against Ehud Barak's budget, stating it is "Anti-Social in a most profound way".

Ilan Gilon was placed eighth on the party's list for the 2006 elections, but missed out on a seat as the party was reduced to five MKs.

Ilan Gilon served as head of the Meretz faction in the Knesset, and was ranked as one of the five top legislators of social laws according to the Social Guard index.

Ilan Gilon was re-elected in 2013, and again in 2015 after being placed second on the party's list.

In February 2019, Ilan Gilon won the most votes in Meretz's first-ever list primaries.

Ilan Gilon retained second place on the Meretz list for the April 2019 elections, in which the party won four seats.

Meretz contested the September 2019 elections as part of the Democratic Union alliance, with Ilan Gilon retaining his seat as the fifth-placed candidate on the alliance's list.

Ilan Gilon was placed eighth on the list, but lost his seat as the parties won only seven seats.

Ilan Gilon replaced Amir Peretz on 29 January 2021 as a member of the twenty-third Knesset after Peretz's Knesset resignation came into effect.

Ilan Gilon did not run for re-election in the March 2021 elections due to issues with his health.

Ilan Gilon was married to Yehudit and was a father of four.