Tamar Zandberg

Tamar Zandberg (born 29 April 1976) is an Israeli academic and former politician associated with the left-wing Meretz party. She served as a member of the Knesset from 2013 to 2022, representing the 19th through 23rd legislatures, and briefly led Meretz as its chairwoman from 2018 until losing the position in 2019. In the short-lived 2021–2022 coalition government, she held the portfolio of Minister of Environmental Protection, prioritizing climate change mitigation and sustainable urban planning. A prominent organizer of the 2011 social justice protests against rising housing costs and economic inequality, Zandberg holds advanced degrees in economics, psychology, law, and social psychology, and since 2022 has focused on climate policy research, heading a center at Ben-Gurion University. Her political career included advocacy for civil liberties and gender equality but was overshadowed by scandals, such as a 2019 fine for exceeding campaign funding limits after hiring a consultant with far-right ties, and 2022 accusations of personal corruption involving her partner.

Zandberg was born in Ramat Gan in 1976, the daughter of journalist Esther Zandberg and Yoel Zandberg and the sister of Israeli international footballer Michael Zandberg. She attended Blich High School and served in the Education Corps of the Israel Defense Forces.