Orly Levy is a former fashion model running for Israel’s Parliament from the conservative Israel Beitenu Party. Her name also appears as Orly Levi in several publications. She will likely win a seat in Parliament in the upcoming February 10, 2009 election.

Orly Levy

Orly Levy (or Levi)

Orly Levy, 36, is a married mother of three running for Israel’s Parliament. She is a member of the conservative Beitenu Party. The party is a self-described nationalist organization that stands for the separation of Gaza from the West Bank, suggesting that Israel treats Gaza the way China treats Hong Kong. On its website, it also portrays the current conflicts in the Middle East as that of the “Western World vs. Radical Islam,” with Israel on the frontline for the Western World. It also opposes an independent Palestinian state, saying that would lead to the destruction of Israel. Beitenu also strongly opposes “Land for Peace” compromises that have been advocated by liberal groups.

Ms. Levy, by her own admission, has no political experience. She has served in the Israeli Air Force and has a degree in Law. She also has experience as a model, and has hosted a variety of Israeli television shows. Levy comes from a very prominent family, as her father is a former Israeli foreign minister.

Orly Levy is getting the Sarah Palin treatment from the Israeli press. One commentator suggested that, if elected, a TV network should make a reality show about her. Even the American magazine Newsweek has dubbed her the Palin of Israel.

However, unlike Sarah Palin, Orly Levy seems destined to win. Israel takes a different approach to elections than the United States. Their citizens vote for parties, not individual candidates. Each party gets a number of seats proportional to the number of popular votes it receives in the election. The party then decides who among them should take those seats based on a prioritized list of candidates. Orly Levy is #6 on the list for the Beitenu party. Since Beitenu is projected in most polls to take as many as 18 seats this year, Levy is all but certain to take her seat in Parliament. Disillusioned by recent conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, Israelis have taken to the nationalist party and its hardline stance against Israel’s enemies.

I must say, Israel has good taste. They’ll have a total hottie in Parliament. Meanwhile, we have Nancy Pelosi and Claire McCaskill.

See video regarding Israel’s upcoming election here: