Major Political Parties
Or see the minor political parties.
Labour
Party Leader: Amir Peretz
Amir Peretz was born in Morocco in 1952, and immigrated to Israel in 1956. He was Mayor of Sderot, before being elected into the Knesset in 1982 and serving on many socially minded committees such as labour and welfare, social justice, womens affairs and foreign workers. In 1995, Peretz became the leader of Histadrut (a federation of trade unions) where he was known for being a loose cannon for calling strikes. Resigning from Labour in 1999 he formed his own party (Am Ehad “One Nation”) which merged back into Labour in 2004. In 2005 Peretz beat Shimon Peres for the top spot in Labour. Although mainly concerned with social justice and economic equality, many question his ability to handle security issues.
Main Policies
"We need better services to do more for the people. We need to remember that, with capitalism, all that glitters is not gold.”
- Amir Peretz
Socio-economic: With Peretz being a former Union leader, Labour will lean left on economic issues, pushing for a raise in the minimum wage and enable a free market economy but with certain restrictions
Security
Labour support a two state solution, are pro-fence, pro-unilateral withdrawls and evacuation of settlements, although Labour’s focus on economic issues, raises questions about their ability to handle the security issues.
Mandates
Current Seats: 18
Predicted Seats: 19-24
As long as Labour concentates on its top 10 list, aside from focusing on Peretz, it could pick up some votes.
Kadima
Party Leader: Ehud Olmert
Born in Israel in 1945, Ehud Olmert was active in both the Betar Youth movement and the Army before becoming the youngest member of the Knesset in 1973, where he went on to serve 7 consecutive terms. Mayor of Jerusalem for 2 terms, he was beaten by Ariel Sharon in the Likud primaries, and became the Vice-Prime Minister. Following Sharon in his formation of the Kadima party, he became Acting Prime Minister after Sharon tragically suffered a major stroke, he continues to be the front runner for Kadima and Prime Minister.
Why Kadima was formed
"There is no doubt that the most important and dramatic step we face is the determination of our permanent borders, to ensure the Jewish majority in the country."
-
Ehud Olmert
The Disengagement from Gaza showed major rifts within the Likud party. Even though his popularity was growing with the Israeli people, it was declining within the right wing factions of Likud, especially after his alignment with left parties such as Labour. Looking for a 3rd term as Prime Minister, and with his personal popularity very high, Sharon quit the Likud party and established Kadima. Driven by the "cult of personality" of Sharon, Kadima drew both Israeli politicians and citizens from the both the left and the right to the new centrist philosophy created by Sharon and the unilateral disengagement. Following years without peace being brokered by either the left (Labour) or the right (Likud), many Israelis see Kadima as a new light and hope for reaching definite defensible borders and a lasting peace in the region.
Main Policies
Continuing unilateral withdrawals from the territories to establish borders. While consolidating settlements into maintainable blocs, as well as addressing electoral reform
Predictions
Most likely to get anywhere from 35- 45 seats which is enough to win and form an ideal coalition government, likely to be with Yisrael Beteinu, Shas and United Torah Judaism, but whoever its form a coalition with will influence the policies.
Likud
Party Leader: Benyamin "Bibi" Netanyahu
Born in Israel in 1949, Netanyahu served in an elite commando unit during his army service. After studying at MIT and Harvard he returned to Israel, and in 1996 was elected Israel’s 9th and youngest Prime Minister. Defeated by Ehud Barak and the Labour Party in 1999, he continued to serve in the Knesset in opposition. Strongly opposing Sharon’s disengagement plan, Netanyahu quit the Knesset when the issue would not be taken to a referendum. After Sharon defected to his new Kadima party in late 2005, Netanyahu won the chairmanship of the Likud party and has since steered the party further to the right
Policies
"In business there are no free lunches, and this is also true with politics, there can be no free withdrawals."
- Benyamin Netanyahu
Under Netanyahu, Likud have leaned to the right, opposing the unilateral withdrawals, as they inciting terrorism, opposing territorial concessions (besides some isolated settlements), and no negotiations with Palestinians until they: “fully acknowledge Israel’s right to exist, a full cessation of terror and incitement, and any future negotiations will be on a reciprocal basis only.”
Campaign Slogans
- "Strong against Hamas"
- "The Likud is renewing itself"
Mandates
Current Seats: 26
Predicted Seats: 11-16
Campaigning on the fact that Labour and Kadima would draw the borders on the 1967 lines could win it some support. But could face some competition with the newly united National Union and National Religious Party. Likud was also thought to have benefitted from the Hamas victory, however recent polls have not shown it to have picked up much ground.
