Idan Roll entered public life in Israel as part of a celebrity power couple, but now serves as the country’s Deputy Foreign Minister, following a successful same-sex surrogacy campaign.
Last week, on Thursday 30th June, the Israeli Parliament - the Knesset - voted to dissolve itself, triggering the country’s fifth elections in less than four years, which will take place in November.
One of the candidates hoping to be re-elected is Idan Roll, a former model, lawyer and LGBTQI+ rights activist, who is currently Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister.
The member of the centre-left Yesh Atid party sat down for an interview with the Mirror on a visit to London on Tuesday 5th July, as he attended the International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief, hosted by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Roll had an unconventional route into politics. He entered politics after successfully campaigning for same-sex couples to legally have a child via surrogate in Israel.
“It is something that we all really fought for,” Roll said.
He described it as “amazing”, that couples can now “go through this amazing process surrounded by their loved ones in Israel, in Hebrew, in local hospitals, where they speak the language and understand what is going on.”
Roll has two children, born via a surrogate in Oklahoma, with his husband Harel Skaat, one of Israel’s biggest pop stars. Harel Skaat represented Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2010.
The pair have been described as a celebrity power couple in Israel.
“There's definitely a big advantage in coming into the political career and public career by doing social activism,” Roll said.
“I think it humbles you.
“It made me learn more about my community, and also about different other communities in Israel.
“With Israel having consecutive elections in the past few years, it's imperative that I remember the reasons that got me doing this at all times.
"Inclusivity and tolerance is a job that never ends. It’s about maintaining it, it's about education, and I'm privileged to be part of that."
Last month in June, Roll raised the Pride flag at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem to mark Pride Month, alongside Israel’s current Prime Minister Yair Lapid.
Roll said that waving the Pride flag during Pride Month at the Foreign Ministry was about “being proud and showcasing how inclusive and diverse our society is”.
“It felt amazing because it was about sending a message not only inside Israel, but to the world, about the values that Israel believes in, and that I strongly believe in.
“I have been putting a lot of effort into bridging somewhat of a gap between what specific circles might deem Israel to be and what I experience in Israel.”
For some, gestures like flying the Pride flag have been deemed ‘pinkwashing’.
‘Pinkwashing’ is a term coined in 2011 by American academic and LGBTQI+ activist Sarah Schulman, with reference to the Israeli government.
It is the strategy of promoting LGBTQI+ rights, in order to shift attention away from the occupation of the Palestinian Territories.
The United Nations refers to the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East Jerusalem as being occupied by Israel.
In response to this, Roll said: “I'm very happy to say that I haven't been approached about [pinkwashing] ever so far in my career.
“I think the world has a clearer notion about LGBTQ life in Israel.
“We still have a way to go, but we’re definitely one of the best places on earth for the LGBTQ community, and for gay couples to be able to raise their families.
“I wouldn't feel comfortable in a million years doing my job and advocating for that, if it wasn't the case."
Roll highlighted that over the past year, the Israeli government has “passed a historic budget for the LGBTQ community” and “lifted the ban on gay people being able to donate blood”.
Beyond elections on 1st November, Roll said: “I’ll stay focused on seeing that every year, something is being achieved.”
