List of political parties in Israel
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Israel's political system is based on proportional representation, and allows for a multi-party system, with numerous parties represented in the 120-seat Knesset.
A typical Knesset includes many factions represented. This is because of the low
Alignment grouping in the 1969 elections
(the Alignment had briefly held a majority of seats before the elections, following its formation in January 1969).
As a result, while only four parties (or their antecedents) have ever led governments, all Israeli governments, as of 2023[update], have been coalitions comprising two or more parties.
Current parties
Parties represented in the Knesset
The following parties are represented following the 2022 election:
Party or alliance | Ideology | Symbol | Leader | Knesset | Status | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Likud[a] | מחל محل |
Benjamin Netanyahu | 32 / 120 |
Government | |||||
Yesh Atid | פה فه |
Yair Lapid | 24 / 120 |
Opposition | |||||
Shas[a] |
|
שס شس |
Aryeh Deri | 11 / 120 |
Government | ||||
National Unity |
Blue and White Israel Resilience Party | כן كن |
Benny Gantz | 8 / 120 |
Government | ||||
Mafdal – Religious Zionism[a] | Religious Zionism | ט ط |
Bezalel Smotrich | 7 / 120 |
Government | ||||
United Torah Judaism[a] |
Agudat Yisrael |
|
ג ج |
Moshe Gafni | 7 / 120 |
Government | |||
Degel HaTorah | |||||||||
Otzma Yehudit[a] | Kahanism Ultranationalism |
Itamar Ben-Gvir | 6 / 120 |
Government | |||||
Yisrael Beiteinu | ל ل |
Avigdor Lieberman | 6 / 120 |
Opposition | |||||
United Arab List | עם عم |
Mansour Abbas | 5 / 120 |
Opposition | |||||
Hadash– Ta'al |
Hadash (Maki) |
|
ום وم |
Ayman Odeh | 5 / 120 |
Opposition | |||
Ta'al | |||||||||
Labor Party | אמת أمت |
Merav Michaeli | 4 / 120 |
Opposition | |||||
New Hope | Gideon Sa'ar | 4 / 120 |
Opposition | ||||||
Noam[a] |
|
Avi Maoz | 1 / 120 |
Government |
Other parties
The following parties do not have Knesset seats at present:
- Ahrayut
- Ale Yarok
- Am Shalem
- Ani Veata (Me and You) — The Israeli People's Party
- Arab Democratic Party
- Balad
- Bible Bloc
- Brit Olam
- Da'am Workers Party, Organization for Democratic Action
- Derekh Eretz
- Dor
- Eretz Hadasha
- HaYisraelim
- Ihud Bnei HaBrit (United Allies)
- Israel Hofsheet (Israel Free)[1]
- Kadima (held seats from 2005 to 2015)
- Koah HaKesef
- Koah LeHashpi'a
- Lazuz
- Leader
- Lehem
- Lev LaOlim
- Man's Rights in the Family Party
- Magen Yisrael (Shield of Israel)
- Mahane Yehuda — Royalist Party of Israel
- Meimad (held seats between 1999 and 2009 as part of the One Israel alliance)
- Meretz
- New Horizon
- New Right
- Or
- Piratim — The Pirate Party of Israel
- Rappeh — a political party protesting COVID restrictions.[2]
- Shavim (Community) — Founded in 2018 as an LGBT party
- Telem[3]
- The Greens
- Tzeirim Boarim (Youths on Fire) — A big tent party founded in 2022 by Hadar Muchtar with the purpose of combating the rising cost of living.[4]
- Gesher)
- U'Bizchutan — founded in 2015 as an ultra-Orthodox Jewish women's party [5]
- Yachad
- Yisrael Hazaka
- Yisrael HaMithadeshet
- Zehut
Former parties
Parties formerly represented in the Knesset
Party | First Knesset | Last Knesset | Notes | Ideology |
---|---|---|---|---|
Agriculture and Development | 2nd | 4th | Arab satellite list |
Israeli Arab interest
|
Ahi | 16th | 17th | Breakaway from the National Religious Party, joined the National Union alliance (2006–2008), merged into Likud | Religious Zionism |
Ahdut HaAvoda | 2nd | 5th | Merged into the Labor Party | Labor Zionism |
Ahva | 9th | 9th | Breakaway from the Democratic Movement | |
Alignment |
6th | 12th | Became the Labor Party | Labor Zionism |
Aliya | 14th | 14th | Breakaway from Yisrael BaAliyah | |
Arab Democratic Party | 11th | 13th | Breakaway from the Alignment, merged into the United Arab List |
Israeli Arab interests |
Arab List for Bedouin and Villagers | 8th | 8th | Arab satellite list; merged into the United Arab List (1977) |
Israeli Arab interests |
Atid | 13th | 13th | Breakaway from Yiud | Liberalism |
Balad | 14th | 24th | Arab political party | Palestinian nationalism |
Black Panthers | 12th | 12th | Breakaway from Hadash | |
Centre Party |
14th | 15th |
Breakaway from Likud, Tzomet and Labor Party | |
Cooperation and Brotherhood | 4th | 7th | Arab satellite list |
Israeli Arab interest |
Cooperation and Development | 6th | 6th | Arab satellite list; merger of Cooperation and Brotherhood and Progress and Development , demerged soon after |
Israeli Arab interest |
Dash | 9th | 9th | Disbanded into the Democratic Movement, Shinui, and Ya'ad | |
Democratic Choice | 15th |
15th |
Breakaway from Meretz-Yachad
| |
Democratic List for Israeli Arabs | 2nd | 3rd | Arab satellite list |
Israeli Arab interest |
Democratic Movement | 9th | 9th | Emerged from the break-up of Dash | |
Development and Peace | 9th | 9th | ||
Druze Faction | 6th | 6th | Breakaway from Cooperation and Brotherhood, merged into Progress and Development | |
Faction independent of Ahdut HaAvoda | 2nd | 2nd | Breakaway from Mapam, merged into Mapai | |
Fighters' List | 1st |
1st |
||
Free Centre | 6th | 8th | Breakaway from Herut in 6th Knesset, breakaway from Likud in 8th Knesset | |
Gahal | 5th | 7th | Became Likud | |
General Zionists | 1st |
4th | Merged into the Liberal Party
| |
Gesher |
13th | 15th |
Breakaway from Likud, merged back into Likud | |
Gesher – Zionist Religious Centre |
10th | 10th | Breakaway from National Religious Party, merged back into NRP | |
Geulat Yisrael | 10th | 10th | Breakaway from Agudat Yisrael | |
HaOlim | 16th | 16th | Breakaway from Shinui, merged into Yisrael Beiteinu | |
Hapoel HaMizrachi | 2nd | 2nd | Merged into the National Religious Party | |
Hebrew Communists | 1st |
1st |
Breakaway from Maki, merged into Mapam | |
Herut | 1st |
5th | Merged into Gahal | |
Herut – The National Movement | 14th | 15th |
Breakaway from Likud, joined National Union alliance, ran unsuccessfully in the following two elections and merged back into Likud | Revisionist Zionism |
HaTzeirim | 14th | 14th | Breakaway from the Centre Party, merged into Shinui
| |
Independent Liberals | 5th | 9th | Breakaway from the Alignment
| |
Independent Socialist Faction | 8th | 8th | Breakaway from Ya'ad – Civil Rights Movement | |
Jewish–Arab Brotherhood | 6th | 6th | Breakaway from Progress and Development, merged into Cooperation and Brotherhood | |
The Jewish Home | 18th | 23rd | Dissolved on 20 August 2023, Merged into National Religious Party–Religious Zionism | Religious Zionism |
Justice for the Elderly | 17th | 17th | Breakaway from Gil , merged back into Gil
| |
Kach |
11th | 11th | Party banned | Religious Zionism, Kahanism |
Left Camp of Israel | 9th | 9th | ||
Left Faction | 2nd | 2nd | Breakaway from Mapam | |
Lev | 15th |
15th |
Breakaway from the Centre Party, merged into Likud
| |
Liberal Party |
4th | 5th | Merged into Gahal | |
Maki (original) | 1st |
7th | Merged into Moked | |
Mapai | 1st |
5th | Merged into the Labor Party | |
Mapam | 1st |
12th | Merged into Meretz
| |
Mekhora | 14th | 14th | Breakaway from Tzomet, merged into Moledet | |
Meri | 6th | 7th | Originally named HaOlam HaZeh – Koah Hadash (until 1973) | |
Mizrachi | 2nd | 2nd | Merged into the National Religious Party | |
Moked | 7th | 8th | Merged into the Left Camp of Israel | |
Morasha | 11th | 11th | ||
Moria | 12th | 12th | Breakaway from Shas | |
Movement for the Renewal of Social Zionism | 10th | 10th | Breakaway from Telem
| |
National Home | 16th | 16th | Breakaway from the Secular Faction | |
National List | 7th | 9th | Merged into Likud | |
National Religious Party | 3rd | 17th | Disbanded when The Jewish Home formed | Religious Zionism |
New Liberal Party | 12th | 12th | Breakaway from Likud | |
New Way | 15th |
15th |
Breakaway from the Centre Party
| |
Noy |
16th | 16th | Breakaway from One Nation, merged into Kadima | |
Ometz | 9th | 11th | Breakaway from Telem, broke away again, merged into Likud
| |
One Israel (1980) | 9th | 9th | Breakaway from Likud | |
One Israel | 15th |
15th |
Joint list of Gesher
| |
One Nation | 14th | 16th | Merged into the Labor Party | |
Poalei Agudat Yisrael | 2nd | 9th | ||
Progress and Development | 4th | 8th | Arab satellite list; merged into the United Arab List (1977)
| |
Progress and Work | 2nd | 3rd | Arab satellite list
| |
Progressive List for Peace | 11th | 12th | ||
Progressive National Alliance | 15th |
15th |
Breakaway from the United Arab List | |
Progressive Party | 1st |
4th | Merged into the Liberal Party
| |
Rafi | 5th | 6th | Breakaway from Mapai, merged into the Labor Party | |
Ratz | 8th | 12th | Merged into Meretz
| |
Religious Torah Front | 3rd | 4th | Broke up into Agudat Yisrael and Poalei Agudat Yisrael | |
Secular Faction | 16th | 16th | Breakaway from Shinui | |
Sephardim and Oriental Communities | 1st |
2nd | Merged into the General Zionists | |
Shinui | 9th | 16th | Majority of representatives split to form Secular Faction | |
Shlomtzion | 9th | 9th | Merged into Likud | |
Tami | 10th | 11th | Breakaway from the National Religious Party, merged into the Likud | |
Tehiya | 9th | 12th | Breakaway from Likud | |
Telem |
9th | 10th | Breakaway from Likud | |
The Right Way | 17th | 17th | Breakaway from Justice for the Elderly | |
The Third Way | 13th | 14th | Breakaway from the Labor Party | |
Tkuma |
14th | 17th | Breakaway from the National Religious Party, joined the National Union alliance in 1999, disbanded in 2008. | Religious Zionism |
Tzalash | 16th | 16th | Breakaway from Shinui | |
United Arab List (1977) | 8th | 9th | Merger of the Arab List for Bedouins and Villagers and Progress and Development (not related to contemporary United Arab List )
| |
United Religious Front | 1st |
1st |
Broke up into Agudat Yisrael, Poalei Agudat Yisrael, Mizrachi and Hapoel HaMizrachi | |
Unity for Peace and Immigration | 12th | 12th | Breakaway from the Alignment, merged into Likud
| |
Unity Party | 9th | 9th | Breakaway from Dash and the Left Camp of Israel | |
WIZO | 1st |
1st |
WIZO incorporated the Union of Hebrew Women for Equal Rights in Eretz Israel (he), also known as the Women's Union, which had won seats in the Old Yishuv elections. | |
Ya'ad | 9th | 9th | Emerged from the break-up of Dash | |
Ya'ad – Civil Rights Movement | 8th | 8th | Merger of Ratz and one other MK, split into Ratz and the Independent Socialist Faction | |
Yachad |
11th | 11th | Merged into the Alignment
| |
Yemenite Association | 1st |
2nd | Merged into the General Zionists but broke away later | |
Yisrael BaAliyah | 14th | 16th | Merged into Likud | |
Yiud | 13th | 13th | Breakaway from Tzomet |
Parties that failed to win seats in the Knesset
Name | Letter | Political position | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Hatzohar | ג | Right-wing |
Original 1949 elections .
|
Popular Arab Bloc | ת | Left-wing |
Arab satellite list that ran in the 1949 elections. Affiliated with Mapam
|
Tafnit | פ | Centre | Ran in the 2006 elections. |
Women's Party | נס | Left-wing |
Ran in the 1977 elections. |
Yamin Yisrael | יד | Right-wing |
Broke away from Moledet, another right-wing party, prior to the 1996 elections, but failed to cross the electoral threshold. |
The Arab List - The Center | צח | Centre | Arab satellite list that ran in the 1955 elections. Affiliated with General Zionists
|
Name changes
The following parties changed their names
- Banai became Tehiya-Bnai, then Tehiya
- Emunim became Tkuma
- Equality in Israel-Panthers became the Unity Party
- Flatto-Sharon became Development and Peace
- Hitkhabrut became the Renewed Religious National Zionist Party, then Ahi
- Israel in the Centre became the Centre Party
- Meretz became Yachad, then Meretz-Yachad, then Meretz again
- Movement for Change and Initiative became Shinui
- Mizrachi-Hapoel HaMizrachi became the National Religious Front, then National Religious Party, then The Jewish Home
- National Responsibility became Kadima
- National Unity - National Progressive Alliance became Progressive National Alliance
- Parliamentary Group of Bronfman and Tsinker became Makhar, then the Democratic Choice
- Party for the Advancement of the Zionist Idea became the New Liberal Party
- Rafi – National List became Ometz
- Rakah became Maki
- Secular Faction became Hetz
- Social-Democratic Faction became the Independent Socialist Faction
- Shinui - Centre Party became Shinui - the Secular Movement, then Shinui - Party for the Secular and the Middle Class, but is generally known as Shinui
Zionist youth movements
Name | Meaning | Movement | Association | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Betar |
League of Joseph Trumpeldor | Revisionist | Likud | Historically associated with Herut, and now Likud. | |
Bnei Akiva | Sons of Akiva | Religious | The Jewish Home | Historically associated with Mafdal, and now The Jewish Home. | |
Habonim Dror | The Builders of Freedom | Labor | Labor Party | Associated with the Labor Zionist movement, and now unofficially with the Israeli Labor Party. | |
Hashomer Hatzair | The Young Guard | Labor | Meretz | Associated with the left faction of Labor Zionist, historically associated with Mapam, and now unofficially with Meretz. | |
HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed | The Working and Learning Youth | Labor | Labor Party | Associated with the Labor Zionist movement, Histadrut, and now unofficially with the Israeli Labor Party. | |
Meretz Youth | Meretz Youth | Labor | Meretz | Youth wing of Meretz (under 18). | |
Noar HaAvoda | Labor Youth | Labor | Labor Party | Young-wing of the Israeli Labor Party (under 18). | |
Noar HaIhud HaLeumi | National Union Youth | Religious | Religious Zionist | Youth wing of the Religious Zionist Party. | |
Noar HaGvaot | Hilltop Youth | Religious | Otzma Yehudit | Historically associated with Kach , and its various successor parties.
| |
Noar Yesh Atid | Yesh Atid Youth | Liberal | Yesh Atid | Youth wing of Yesh Atid (under 18). | |
HaMahanot HaOlim | The Immigrants Camps | Labor | None |
Associated with the Labor Zionist movement. | |
HaNoar HaTzioni | The Zionist Youth | Liberal | None |
Historically associated with the General Zionists. | |
Ariel | Lion of God | Religious | Religious Zionist | Split from Bnei Akiva, unofficially associated with Religious Zionist Party. | |
HaNoar HaDati HaOved VeHaLomed | The Religious Working and Studying Youth | Religious | None |
Founded in 1952, historically associated with Hapoel HaMizrachi. | |
Noar HaLikud | The Likud Youth |
Revisionist | Likud | Youth wing of Likud (under 18). | |
Young Meretz | Young Meretz | Labor | Meretz | Young-wing of Meretz (18-35). |
See also
- Politics of Israel
- List of political parties by country
- Liberalism in Israel
- Labor Zionism
- Revisionist Zionism
References
- ^ Keller-Lynn, Carrie (2 August 2022). "Promising to pursue Netanyahu, libertarian rebel MK Avidar announces own party". The Times of Israel.
- ^ "Rappeh, A New Israeli Political Party Against the Lockdowns". The Jewish Press. 15 February 2021.
- ^ Wootliff, Raoul (2 January 2019). "Former defense chief Ya'alon launches new political party, Telem". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
- Jerusalem Post.
- ^ Krule, Miriam (21 January 2015). "Ultra-Orthodox Women in Israel Launch Their Own Political Party". Slate. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
External links
- Parties participating in the 2006 elections Knesset website (in English)
- All parliamentary groups Knesset website (in English)