Israeli Venture Capitalist Ends Political Stint

Member of the Knesset for the Labor party Erel Margalit announced his retirement from the Israeli House of Representatives and from politics in general in a Facebook post October 3. Mr. Margalit was first elected to the Knesset in 2013.

Before entering politics, Mr. Margalit was a notable venture capitalist who worked to establish Jerusalem as a technology and startup hub. In 1993, Mr. Margalit founded the Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP) venture fund, which has since invested in over 100 startups, including video monetization company AnyClip Ltd., Mobile engagement company Celltick Technologies Ltd., and AI-based consumer insight company Aspectiva Ltd. The venture fund also established the JVP Media Quarter, a Jerusalem-based new media and technology incubator. JVP currently manages assets valued at over $1 billion.

Mr. Margalit said he will return to his role as Chairman of JVP. A self-proclaimed social entrepreneur, Mr. Margalit said he will work to establish new innovation and technology hubs in Israel’s peripheral areas: the northern region of the Galilee, and the Negev in the south of Israel.

During his five-year term at the Knesset, Mr. Margalit served as a member of the Finance Committee and of the Science and Technology Committee, and chaired the Parliamentary Task Force for Economic Development in the North and the Negev. In July, Mr. Margalit was defeated by Avi Gabbay in his bid for the leadership of the Labor party.