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ISRAEL TODAY ELECTIONS 96

Note:
These files were produced before some of the final platforms appeared. They have been revised several times, but you should check them before use, or update.

Format: Use the following as comparative charts by reprocessing or by pasting them.

1. LAND, PEACE & SECURITY

   LIKUD GESHER TZOMET
   
   • Israel should keep control over Judea and Samaria
   • Limited autonomy to the Arabs of Judea and Samaria based on the Camp David Agreement.
   • Exclusive IDF control of security in the territories
   • Has campaigned against the Oslo Accords, which it now accepts as a fait accompli, with the present partners, but wishes to proceed more cautiously.
   • Welcomes peace with Jordan.
   • Opposes territorial compromise in the Golan.
   
   LABOR
   
   • Israel to withdraw from populated Palestinian areas in the West Bank.
   • Full autonomy in West Bank under auspices of the Palestinian Authority.
   • PLO to be in control in autonomous areas.
   • Withdrawn opposition to the creation of a Palestinian state
   • Favors the continuation of Oslo Accords and territorial compromise.
   • Welcomes peace with Jordan
   • Favors territorial compromise in the Golan
   
   MERETZ
   
   • Israel should withdraw from areas conquered in 1967.
   • Supports the creation of a Palestinian State in the West Bank and Gaza Strip
   • Favors withdraw from the Golan in exchange for peace with Israel.
   
   
   

2. SETTLEMENT

   LIKUD GESHER TZOMET
   
   • Increase settlement.
   
   LABOR
   
   • Freeze all new, government sponsored settlements
   
   MERETZ
   
   • Freeze all settlements




3. RELIGION

   LIKUD GESHER TZOMET
   
   • Israel must be made into a meaningful Jewish Society.
   • Supports the Status Quo agreement.
   • Prior to jointly running with the Likud, Tsomet favored a separation of State and Religion. As a result of the joint platform, Tsomet favors the Status Quo.
   
   LABOR
   
   • Secular party but willing to make compromise with religious parties.
   
   MERETZ
   
   • Total separation of State and religion.




4. ECONOMY

   LIKUD GESHER TZOMET
   
   • Free market, anti-socialist.
   • Gesher emphasises social policy. In particular, it advocates more funding for development towns.
   
   LABOR
   
   • Mixed Economy
   
   MERETZ
   
   • "The three partners of Meretz will cooperate on economic issues where they share common ground and will be free to vote separately on economic issues where they differ."




5. JERUSALEM

   LIKUD GESHER TZOMET
   
   • Jerusalem is the united spiritual and political capital of the State of Israel and the Jewish people.
   • Opposes all division of the city.
   
   LABOR
   
   • United Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Israel.
   • The Labor Party, according to the Declaration of Principles, will begin to discuss with the Palestinian Authority the future, as well as the final status arrangements of Jerusalem no later than May 1996.
   • The P.L.O. was not to be a partner for dialogue regarding the matter of united Jerusalem during the "interim period".
   • In the Washington Declaration, Israel respected "the present special role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Moslem Holy Shrines in Jerusalem. When negotiations on the permanent status take place, Israel will give high priority to the "historic Jordanian role in these shrines".
   
   MERETZ
   
   • Jerusalem, Israel's capital shall not be divided. Its permanent status shall take into consideration all of Jerusalem's unique religious and national characteristics
   .