Political Parties of Israel

The Israeli multi-party system was formed even before the proclamation of the state in 1948. The main force in the initial period was the parties of the socialist direction (such as MAPAY ). There were also right-wing parties of the "Zionist revisionists" - " Ezel ", and the " LEKHI " breakaway from it. In addition to the political struggle for independence, clandestine military organizations of both the Hagan socialists and the revisionists fought against the British occupation authorities by military methods ^{[1] [2]} .

After the founding of the State of Israel, the Herut party was created on the basis of Ezel, losing the MAPAI party in the first elections, whose leader David Ben-Gurion became the Prime Minister of Israel. The MAPAM party, which stood on the extremely left pro-Soviet positions, also constituted a serious force in the early 1950s. The parties of the "revisionists" ("Herut") and the liberal-bourgeois trend were in opposition to the government.

On the eve of the Six Day War (1967), Menachem Begin , the leader of the opposition block “ HAHAL ” created on the basis of “Herut” and “Liberal Party”, entered the government of national unity (PNE). In the same period, a split occurred in the Communist Party of Israel . Some party leaders ( Mikunis and Sne ) supported the government during the military conflict.

In 1977, the Likud bloc (the full name is the National Liberal Movement) came to power, formed on the basis of the Gakhal bloc and the Merkaz Hofshi, Reshima Mamlakhtit parties and the Eretz Israel a -Helmet. " Likud remained in power (as the main partner or within the PNE) until 1992 ^[2] . Since then, the government has been led by both Labor Socialists from the Avoda Party , created on the basis of the MAPAY Party, and national liberals, based on the Likud.

In 2005, after the Likud split (the reason was the disagreement over the withdrawal of troops from the Gaza Strip ), a new Kadima party was formed, led by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon . In 2006, this party won the election and formed a government.

After the 2009 elections , Likud formed a coalition government with right-wing and religious parties led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu .

The division of parties into right and left in Israel is somewhat different from that traditionally adopted in other countries. Parties can be conditionally divided according to the following criteria: attitude to the peace process and attitude to religion.

Traditionally, parties in favor of a peaceful resolution to the conflict with the Arabs are considered leftist; as a rule, these parties (such as Avoda , Yahad-Merets , Hadash and Arab parties) are ready for serious territorial concessions. Right-wing parties (such as Likud , Mafdal - Ihud Leumi ) are more prone to a tough stance. At the moment, the government is led by the center-right Likud party , led by Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu .

Religious Parties

Jewish religious circles were represented by the Shas parties ( Sephardic religious party) and the Yahadut ha-Torah blocs (consisting of two parties representing the ultra-Orthodox movements of Judaism ) and Mafdal - Ihud Leumi ( religious Zionists ).

Parties of Russian-speaking immigrants

Before the 1996 elections , a party was formed that represented the interests of the large Russian-speaking community - Israel ba-Aliya , led by Nathan Sharansky . Later, the party " Our Home - Israel " was also formed, led by Avigdor Lieberman . These parties in different years were part of the coalition.

Currently, the party "Israel ba-Aliya" ceased to exist, merging with the " Likud ". The party "Our Home - Israel" at the end of 2007 withdrew from the government and was in opposition before the 2009 elections. He is currently a member of the government coalition.

Russian-speaking parties that applied for participation in the 19th Knesset elections, in 2013:

• Ha-Israel , Leader - David Cohn
• “Mifleget Kalkala” (“Party of Economics”), leader - Julia Shamalova-Berkovich

20 Knesset

The Knesset of the 20th convocation was elected on March 17, 2015 .

• Likud (Knesset seats: 30) - Netanyahu leader , Binyamin
• Zionist camp ( Avoda + ha-Tnua ) (seats in the Knesset: 26) - leader Yitzhak Herzog
• Yesh Atid (11 seats in the Knesset) - leader Yair Lapid
• Jewish House (Knesset seats: 8) - Naftali Bennett leader
• Our Home Israel (6 seats in the Knesset) - leader Avigdor Lieberman
• " Shas " (seats in the Knesset: 7) - leader Arie Deri
• “ Yahadut Ha-Torah ” (seats in the Knesset: 6) - leader Yaakov Litsman
• Merets (5 seats in the Knesset) - leader Zahava Gallon
• “General List” (“ Hadash ” + RAAM + “ Taal ” + “ Balad ”) (seats in the Knesset: 13) - leader Muhammad Barake
• Kulanu (seats in the Knesset: 10) - leader Moshe Kahlon .

In the 19th Knesset

The 19th Knesset was elected on January 22, 2013 .

• Likud - Our Home Israel (seats in the Knesset: 31) - leaders Benjamin Netanyahu , Avigdor Liberman
• Yesh Atid (seats in the Knesset: 19) - leader Yair Lapid
• Jewish House (Knesset seats: 13) - Naftali Bennett leader
• Avoda (seats in the Knesset: 15) - leader Sheli Jachimovich
• " ShAS " (seats in the Knesset: 11) - leaders Eli Ishai , Arie Deri
• “ Yahadut Ha-Torah ” (seats in the Knesset: 7) - leader Yaakov Litsman
• Ha-Tnua (Knesset seats: 6) - Leader Tzipi Livni
• Meretz (seats in the Knesset: 6) - leader Zahava Gallon
• Hadash (seats in the Knesset: 4) - leader Muhammad Barake
• " RAAM - Taal " (seats in the Knesset: 4) - leader Ibrahim Tsartsur
• Balad (seats in the Knesset: 3) - leader Jamal Zahalka
• Kadima (seats in the Knesset: 2) - leader Shaul Mofaz

18th Knesset

The 18th Knesset was elected on February 10, 2009 .

• Kadima (seats in the Knesset: 28) - leader Shaul Mofaz
• Likud (seats in the Knesset: 27) - leader Benjamin Netanyahu
• “ Our Home is Israel ” (seats in the Knesset: 15) - leader Avigdor Lieberman
• Avoda (seats in the Knesset: 8) - leader Sheli Jachimovich
• " ShAS " (seats in the Knesset: 11) - leader Eli Ishai
• “ Yahadut Ha-Torah ” (seats in the Knesset: 5) - leader Yaakov Litsman
• Ihud Leumi (Knesset seats: 4) - leader Jacob Katz
• Hadash (including the Communist Party of Israel ) (Knesset seats: 4)
• United Arab List - Taal (Knesset seats: 4)
• Jewish House (Knesset seats: 3) - leader Daniel Gershkovich
• Balad (seats in the Knesset: 3) - leader Jamal Zahalka
• MERETS (seats in the Knesset: 3) - leader Zahava Gallon

17th Knesset

^[3]

• Kadima (seats in the Knesset: 29) - leader Tzipi Livni
• Likud (Knesset seats: 12) - Leader Benjamin Netanyahu
• Avoda - Maymad (seats in the Knesset: 19) - leader Ehud Barak
• Gil (party of pensioners (seats in the Knesset: 7) - leader Rafi Eitan
• " ShAS " (seats in the Knesset: 12) - leader Eli Ishai
• “ Our Home is Israel ” (12 seats in the Knesset) - leader Avigdor Lieberman
• “ Ihud Leumi ” - “ Mafdal ” (seats in the Knesset: 9) - leader Zvulun Orlev
• “ Merets ” - “ Yahad ” (seats in the Knesset: 5) - leader Yosi Beilin
• “ Yahadut HaTorah ” (seats in the Knesset: 6) - leader Moshe Gafni
• Balad (seats in the Knesset: 3)
• Hadash (including the Communist Party of Israel ) (Knesset seats: 3)
• United Arab List - Taal (Knesset seats: 2)

• “ Ale Yarok ” - Hebrew. עלה ירוק , in the translation "Green Leaf" - a left-wing political party, which sets as its main goal the legalization of soft drugs in general and marijuana in particular. The party leader is Boaz Wachtel ( Heb. בועז וכטל ). He regularly participates in the Knesset elections , but has never passed the electoral barrier in 2 mandates ^[4] .

• Zeev Geisel . Political structures of the State of Israel . - M .: IIIIBV, 2001 .-- 391 p. (inaccessible link)
• Zeev Geisel. Appendix 5: All Israeli parties, movements, blocs and lists in 1976-2001 // Political structures of the State of Israel . - 2001. (unavailable link)