| Party (# of Knesset
members) and Leader
[If 2 links, top one in English; all available languages
listed] |
Socio-economic issues |
Peace Diplomacy |
Religion & State |
Intifada and security |
| Am Echad (2) Amir Peretz
http://www.am1.org.il/english.html
http://www.am1.org.il/
[Hebrew, Russian, Arabic, Amharic, English] |
Seeks to raise minimum
wage, to achieve collective agreements to narrow wage
gaps, and to get the government involved in creating
jobs and increasing public housing |
Endorses a political and security
process that will lead to a peace agreement between the
Israeli and Palestinian nations, which would help Israel
flourish economically, socially, spiritually, and culturally.
|
"Am Ehad” respects
religious and traditional values. The party will work
to protect the rights of the religious worker and will
oppose any discrimination or coercion, religious or otherwise.
Would support legislation to encourage rapprochement between
the different streams of Israeli society. |
|
Balad, The National Democratic
Assembly (1), Muhamad Baraka
http://www.balad.org/display.x
?cid=173&sid=394&id=1676
http://www.balad.org/
[Hebrew, Arabic, English,]
|
Aims to eliminate all state
institutions and laws that discriminate against Arabs
in Israel.
Israel should recognize Arab national minority rights
and grant self-rule to Arabs in matters that distinguish
them from the national majority.
Demands the recognition of
unrecognized Arab villages. |
Supports a peace agreement
ensuring “the withdrawal of Israel from all occupied
Arab territories and the establishment of an independent
Palestinian state in the 1967 Occupied Territories with
East Jerusalem as its capital.” |
Opposes any religious laws
that are discriminatory towards the national minorities. |
Settlements should be dismantled
in the framework of a comprehensive peace agreement |
| Gesher (2, part of One Israel),
David Levy
http://www.davidlevy.co.il/english/gesher/main.htm
http://www.davidlevy.co.il/gesher/main.htm
[Hebrew, English] |
|
|
|
|
Green Party (0),
www.green-party.org.il
[Hebrew only] |
Would fight against health
and environmentally damaging factors, such as cellular
antenna waves, pollution of Israel’s air and water
aquifers, help citizens fight government offices, municipalities,
and private companies |
No declared platform |
No declared platform |
|
| Green Leaf Party – Ale Yarok (0)
Dan Goldenblatt |
Would propose legislation
to legalize cannabis, controlled prostitution, and equal
rights for gays and lesbians. Supports a more balanced
tax system; supports subsidies to outlying economic ventures
that are environmentally friendly and research grants
for start-ups. |
Peace can only be achieved
by painful territorial concessions by both sides. Green
Leaf supports 2-state solution based on pre-67 borders,
with minor adjustments |
Supports separation of religion
from state; opposes state funding of religious institutions;
supports civil weddings |
|
| Hadash, The Democratic Front
For Peace & Equality (3)
Mohammad Barakeh
Includes Ta’al (1), led by Ahmed Tibi
http://www.hadash.org.il/english/index.html
http://www.hadash.org.il/
[Hebrew, English] |
|
Evacuate all settlements over
the Green Line, including East Jerusalem; recognize Palestinian
right of statehood; pursue just settlement of the refugee
issue; Jerusalem as capital of both states. All provisions
should be anchored by peace agreements |
Abolition of coercive religious
law. Freedom of conscience. "...
opposed to the passage of legislation in the Knesset
which would deny the rights of non-Orthodox religious
groups in Israel." |
|
| Party (# of Knesset members)
and Leader
[If 2 links, top one in English; all available languages
listed] |
Socio-economic issues |
Peace Diplomacy |
Religion & State |
Intifada and security |
| Herut (1), Michael Kleiner
http://www.herut.org.il/english/index.htm
http://www.herut.org.il/herut.htm
[Hebrew;
English] |
No declared platform
|
Affirms that Eretz Israel
was given in trust to the Jewish people and therefore
none of it may be given away. Herut opposes Palestinian
statehood in any form |
No declared platform
|
Promotes active settlement
in all areas over the Green Line to create irreversible
“facts” on the ground |
Ichud Leumi-Yisrael Beteinu (7)
Avigdor Lieberman
Includes Moledet, led by Beni Elon
and Tekuma, led by Zvi Hendel
|
No declared platform
|
No diplomacy with the Arab
enemy Annexation of Territories,
Jordanian citizenship offered to all Arabs on both
sides of Green Line, and transfer of any Arabs who
“breach” terms of residence
|
“Israel is a Jewish
and democratic state. As such it will protect equal rights
for all its citizens and residents. The standing of the
legislative authority will be strengthened and the independence
of the judiciary will be honored."
|
Promotes active settlement
in all areas over the Green Line to create irreversible
“facts” on the ground
|
| Labor (25), Amram Mitzna
http://www.avoda.org.il/Avoda_index.asp
[Hebrew only] |
Privatize government-owned
enterprises and institutions while temporarily protecting
the jobs and wages of workers affected by this process;
increase investment in the development of infrastructure,
education, culture and social programs |
"Any peace agreement
we reach must be based on the assured security of our
borders." Supports land for peace formula, and Mitzna
has proposed that Israel unilaterally withdraw from Gaza
if it cannot strike a deal within a year of taking office.
(Meimad) Accepts the concept of land
for peace, holding that without forward movement on
the peace process, there can be no quiet, no tranquility.
Jerusalem is and should remain united capital of Israel.
Though Jews have right to Land of Israel, the good
of the people of Israel takes precedence over the
land itself. |
Opposes the passage of legislation
in the Knesset, which would deny the rights of non-Orthodox
religious groups in Israel. "We oppose all forms
of religious coercion." Affirms
the legitimacy of all religious streams.
(Meimad) Supports incorporating Orthodox
religious practice in Israeli public life but without
restrictive legislation; emphasizes democratic practices
in the Jewish state; supports education regarding
democratic values in both the religious and secular
school system. |
|
| Likud (21), Ariel Sharon
www.likud.org.il
[Hebrew only] |
Supports long school day and
benefits for outlying schools to close social gaps; privatization
in conjunction with the workers; tax reform; reduction
of budget deficit; and creation of jobs in high unemployment
areas
|
"The Likud will seek
to achieve peace and permanent borders in the framework
of peace treaties between Israel and its neighbors and
will seek cooperation with them on the practical level.
The peace agreements will include full diplomatic relations,
borders open to free movement, economic cooperation, and
the establishment of joint projects in the fields of science,
technology, tourism, and industry." While Likud supports
negotiations, it considers Arafat a terrorist and therefore
demands alternative leadership with which to deal.
|
“We shall have to ease
tensions between the secular and religious, Arab and Jew,
Diaspora Jews and Israelis. The intensity of these tensions
is often exaggerated, but they do exist. They should be
ameliorated through dialogue and compromise, not judicial
coercion, abrasive legislation and offensive rhetoric..."
|
The test for the sincerity
of the Arab side is its fight against terror.
|
| Meimad (2, part of Labor/One
Israel), Michael Melchior
www.meimad.org.il
[Hebrew, English not working yet] |
Supports
incorporating Orthodox religious practice in Israeli
public life but without restrictive legislation and
emphasizes democratic practices in
the Jewish state; supports education regarding democratic
values in both the religious and secular school systems. |
Accepts principal of
two states for two people West of the Jordan River
and negotiations without pre-conditions
[Editor's note: Labor plans to not
mention a "united" Jerusalem in its platform,
opening the door for peace plans that include concessions
of territory and sovereignty in East Jerusalem.]
|
|
|
| Party (# of Knesset members)
and Leader
[If 2 links, top one in English; all available languages
listed] |
Socio-economic issues |
Peace Diplomacy |
Religion & State |
Intifada and security |
| Meretz (10), Yossi
Sarid
Includes Democratic Choice (2), led by Roman Bronfman
and
Shachar (2), led by Yossi Beilin
http://www.meretz.org.il/English/HomePage.htm
http://www.meretz.org.il/
[Hebrew, English] |
“Meretz will strive
to narrow existing social gaps by means of enforcing
a reasonable [minimum] wage in the public sector.”
Meretz would implement the public
housing law in order to provide alternate solutions
for the 120,000 families living in these apartments
and to fund new housing for tens of the thousands
of homeless families.
Meretz supports a wide range of legislation
to ensure equality of social rights for all disadvantaged
sectors – handicapped, homosexuals, women, and
non-Jewish minorities |
“Compromise and the
division of [the territory currently controlled by] Israel
between the two nations is essential to bring an end to
the persistent conflict between the two sides.”
Israel must fulfill previous commitments,
while the Palestinian Authority must prove though its
actions that it is making every effort to prevent terrorist
acts against Israel, and Israel must avoid collective
punishment [of the Palestinian people] in response. |
Supports separation of religion
from state. Argues that citizenship be granted according
to the Law of Return to any person who declares in good
faith that he/she is Jewish and not just by Halachic standards
|
Settlements mix two hostile
populations and should be removed. The small and isolated
settlements are a security burden. Would end expropriation
of Palestinian lands for settlements construction. Offer
incentives to families that choose to live inside the
1967 borders of Israel. Protect,
in coordination with the PA, the freedom of movement
of the settlers until a peace agreement is reached
|
| Moledet (part of HaIchud HaLeumi),
Beni Elon
http://www.moledet.org.il/english/index.html
www.moledet.org.il/
[Hebrew, Russian, English] |
|
No diplomacy with the
Arab enemy
Annexation of Territories, Jordanian
citizenship offered to all Arabs on both sides of
Green Line, and forced transfer of any Arabs who “breach”
terms of Moledet plan |
|
Destroy Terror infrastructure
by removing all terrorists, weapons and bomb factories
from Judea, Samaria & Gaza. |
| National Arab Party (2), Muhamad Kanan |
|
|
|
|
| NRP, The National Religious Party
(5), Effy Eitam
http://www.hamafdal.org.il/
[link currently down] |
No declared platform
|
The NRP supports direct peace
negotiations with all the Arab states and with the Arabs
of Israel, based on the following principles: ensuring
full and abiding security for the individual and the state;
uncompromising battle against terror; no Palestinian state
west of the Jordan; unified Jerusalem as the eternal capital
of the people of Israel and the State of Israel alone;
negotiated autonomy for Arabs of the Territories; no Arab
"right of return" to the regions of Israel.
|
Favors legislation to ensure
the Jewish nature of the State. |
Jewish settlement throughout
the land of Israel is the foundation of our hold on the
country and of Israel's security. Therefore,
it must be reinforced, and any political agreement
must ensure that no Jewish settlement be uprooted
|
| Party (# of Knesset members)
and Leader
[If 2 links, top one in English; all available languages
listed] |
Socio-economic issues |
Peace Diplomacy |
Religion & State |
Intifada and security |
Shas (17), Eli Yishai
http://www.shasnet.org
http://www.shasnet.org.il
[Hebrew only] |
No declared platform
[Editor: Shas as a religious and social
movement is very involved in attending primarily to
the needs of the Sephardi community. For example,
it runs its own subsidized school system, which provides
a long school day, free busing, and free hot lunches,
as well as charity organizations focusing on the Sephardi
community] |
No declared platform [editor:
has endorsed Ariel Sharon for PM, indicating that they
are appealing to voters who fear that Shas might join
a left-wing government under Amram Mitzna] |
Wants exemption from the army
for almost all Yeshiva students, no transport on Shabbat,
a ban on abortion, introduction of orthodox practices
in secular school system, and the amendment of the Law
of Return. |
|
Shinui (6) Yosef “Tommy” Lapid
http://www.shinui.org.il/english.html
http://www.shinui.org.il/default_ie.asp
[Hebrew, Russian, English,] |
The state must accelerate
privatization and support a free market economy, scientific
and technological development and high-tech industries.
“The role of trade unions is to take care of
workers' welfare, but the Histadrut has become a political
organization serving party-political interests and
does not operate for the benefit of the economy. The
state's job in economic development is to invest in
infrastructure.”
“The state has to strive
to provide free education from kindergarten to university.
Education must impart humanistic, democratic, Liberal
and pluralistic values.” All schools should
carry a core curriculum, educating youth to personal,
social, national and Zionist commitment to these values
|
Shinui supports the peace
process with moderates and does not see Arafat as a partner
for peace.
“The cessation of terror is an indispensable
condition for progress in the diplomatic negotiations.
We are committed to setting up a separation fence
as a partial defense against the frequency of terrorist
infiltrations. At the end of the peace process, we
will have to find a modus vivendi for Jerusalem, to
enable both sides to coexist in peace, with respect
for the holy sites of all the three religions.”
A Palestinian state would be
established only after the Palestinians renounce their
right to return. |
Pass additional basic laws
and, above all, a law on freedom of religion, to ensure
a democratic constitution for Israel.
“This constitution will preserve the state's
Jewish and Zionist character, while respecting the
rights of minorities and guaranteeing individual rights
in the spirit of the Proclamation of Independence."
|
Illegal outposts must be evacuated
immediately. As part of the peace arrangements, Israel
will also have to leave settlements scattered in the heart
of Palestinian populations, but Israel will not evacuate
settlement blocs, and these will be integrated within
Israel's borders. There are also large settlements, which
will be subject to negotiation.” |
| United Torah Judaism (5), Moshe
Gafni |
Deeply concerned with the
Jewish character and identity of Israel, since the lifestyles
that the current cultural heroes of Israeli society cultivate
will lead to a loss of Jewish identity; Jewish education
for all the children of Israel should always at the top
of the government’s priorities |
No stated policy |
The "status quo"
is harmful to religious interest. Rabbinical courts should
be given the same standing as regular courts. Women should
not serve in the army. Opposes civil marriage and recognition
of non-Orthodox conversions in or out of Israel as well
as non-Orthodox participation on religious councils
|
Recognizes Territories as
part of Eretz Israel but does not specify platform on
settlements
[Editor: UTJ enjoys growing support by setters but
attributes trend to its religious policies and not
to any pro-settlement policy]
|
| Ta’al, The Arab
Movement For Change (1), Ahmed Tibi
http://www.a-m-c.org/goals.html
http://www.a-m-c.org/main.html
[Hebrew, Arabic, English] |
Bridge the gap existing between
the Arabs and Jews through affirmative action type projects
in fields such as agriculture, industry, education, housing
communication, and health.
Develop the infrastructure of the streets in Arab regions
and promote road safety; cancel the VAT imposed on
properties; recognize the non-recognized villages;
and solve the internal refugee problems.
|
“The AMC continues its
support of the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and the
establishment of an independent Palestinian state within
1967 borders and Arab Jerusalem as its capital, living
side by side with the Israeli state. The AMC also calls
for a fair solution for Palestinian refugees, based on
UN resolutions.” |
Protect status of Christians
and Muslims in Israel
Educate youth towards the “original reality,
identity and history of the Arab Palestinian population
in Israel” paralleling the Jewish emphasis in
the official religious educational system.
|
|
| United Arab Party (3), Abdul
Malik Dehamshe |
Seeks equality of rights and
opportunities for Arab citizens of Israel |
Supports 2-state solution
based on June 4, 1967 borders |
Equality should be given to
all religions in Israel |
|
| Party (# of Knesset members)
and Leader
[If 2 links, top one in English; all available languages
listed] |
Socio-economic issues |
Peace Diplomacy |
Religion & State |
Intifada and security |
| Tiferet Yisrael (breakaway from
Shas), Yossi Kedouri |
Wants to continue “spiritual
revolution” started by former Shas MK Arye Der’i |
|
|
|
| Tekuma, (Part of
HaIchud HaLeumi), Zvi Hendel
http://www.tkuma.org.il/eindex.html
http://www.tekuma.org.il/
[Hebrew, English] |
|
|
|
|
| Yisrael Beteinu (Part of HaIchud
HaLeumi), Avigdor Lieberman
http://www.beytenu.org.il/
[Hebrew, Russian; English not working yet] |
|
|
|
|
| Party (# of Knesset members)
and Leader
[If 2 links, top one in English; all available languages
listed] |
Socio-economic issues |
Peace Diplomacy |
Religion & State |
Intifada and security |
| Yisrael Ba’aliyah
(4), Natan Sharansky
http://www.aliya.org.il/English/index.html
http://www.aliya.org.il/
[Russian, Hebrew, English] |
Promotes legislation to benefit
immigrants and their absorption; opposes tax reform that
assesses foreign income |
Opposes continuation of the
Oslo process as long as it does not demand true democratic
reform by the Palestinians; would not negotiate with Arafat,
who has built a dictatorial regime, but would be amenable
to an alternative choice committed to implementing democratic
governance in Palestinian areas |
"Expedite legislation
of additionally basic laws guaranteeing the freedom of
speech, religion, and assembly, and giving statutory support
for the principles of equality of citizens." |
Supports continued settlement
throughout the Territories in general and maintaining
control of all of Hebron in particular |