Jump to content

Likud

Extended-protected article
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Likud Central Committee)

Likud – National Liberal Movement
הליכוד – תנועה לאומית ליברלית
ChairpersonBenjamin Netanyahu
FounderMenachem Begin
Founded1973 (alliance)
1988 (unified party)
Merger ofGahal (Herut and Liberal Party), Free Centre, National List and Movement for Greater Israel
HeadquartersMetzudat Ze'ev
38 King George Street
Tel Aviv, Israel
Youth wingLikud Youth
Membership (2012)125,000
Ideology
Political positionRight-wing[22]
European affiliationEuropean Conservatives and Reformists Party (global partner)[23]
International affiliationInternational Democracy Union[24]
Colours  Blue
Knesset
32 / 120
Most MKs48 (1981)
Election symbol
מחל
م‌ح‌ل
[25]
Party flag
Website
www.likud.org.il/en/ Edit this at Wikidata

Likud (Hebrew: הַלִּיכּוּד, romanizedHaLikud, lit.'The Consolidation'), officially known as Likud – National Liberal Movement (Hebrew: הַלִּיכּוּד – תנועה לאומית ליברלית, romanizedHaLikud – Tnu'ah Leumit Liberalit), is a major right-wing political party in Israel.[26][27][28] It was founded in 1973 by Menachem Begin and Ariel Sharon in an alliance with several right-wing parties. Likud's landslide victory in the 1977 elections was a major turning point in the country's political history, marking the first time the left had lost power. In addition, it was the first time in Israel that a right-wing party received the most votes.[29] After ruling the country for most of the 1980s, the party lost the Knesset election in 1992. Likud's candidate Benjamin Netanyahu won the vote for prime minister in 1996 and was given the task of forming a government after the 1996 elections following Yitzak Rabin's assassination. Netanyahu's government fell apart after a vote of no confidence, which led to elections being called in 1999 and Likud losing power to the One Israel coalition led by Ehud Barak.

In 2001 Likud's Ariel Sharon, who replaced Netanyahu following the 1999 election, defeated Barak in an election called by the prime minister following his resignation. After the party recorded a convincing win in the 2003 elections, Likud saw a major split in 2005 when Sharon left to form the Kadima party. This resulted in Likud slumping to fourth place in the 2006 elections and losing 28 seats in the Knesset. Following the 2009 elections, Likud was able to gain 15 seats, and, with Netanyahu back in control of the party, formed a coalition with fellow right-wing parties Yisrael Beiteinu and Shas to take control of the government from Kadima, which earned a plurality, but not a majority. Netanyahu served as prime minister from then until 2021. Likud had been the leading vote-getter in each subsequent election until April 2019, when Likud tied with Blue and White[30] and September 2019, when Blue and White won one more seat than the Likud.[31] Likud won the most seats at the 2020[32] and 2021 elections, but Netanyahu was removed from power in June 2021 by an unprecedented coalition led by Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett.[33][34] He subsequently returned to the office of prime minister after winning the 2022 election.[35]

A member of the party is called a Likudnik (Hebrew: לִכּוּדְנִיק)[36] and the party's election symbol is מחל (Arabic: م‌ح‌ل), reflecting the party's origins as an electoral list of several pre-existing parties, including those who used the symbols מ, ח and ל.[37]

History

Formation and leadership of Begin

The Likud was formed on 13 September 1973 as a secular party[38][39] by an alliance of several right-wing parties prior to that year's legislative electionHerut, the Liberal Party, the Free Centre, the National List, and the Movement for Greater Israel. Herut had been the nation's largest right-wing party since growing out of the Irgun in 1948. It had already been in coalition with the Liberals since 1965 as Gahal, with Herut as the senior partner. Herut remained the senior partner in the new grouping, which was given the name Likud, meaning "Consolidation", as it represented the consolidation of the Israeli right.[40] It worked as a coalition under Herut's leadership until 1988, when the member parties merged into a single party under the Likud name.[41] From its establishment in 1973, Likud enjoyed great support from blue-collar Sephardim.[42]

In its first election Likud won 39 seats, reducing the Alignment's lead to 12.[43] The party went on to win the 1977 election with 43 seats, finishing 11 seats ahead of the Alignment. Menachem Begin formed a government with the support of the religious parties, consigning the left wing to opposition for the first time since independence.[44] A former leader of the hard-line paramilitary Irgun,[45] Begin signed the 1978 Camp David Accords[46] and the 1979 Egypt–Israel peace treaty.[47] In the 1981 election, the Likud won 48 seats, but formed a narrower government than in 1977.[48]

Likud has long been a loose alliance between politicians committed to different and sometimes opposing policy preferences and ideologies.[49][50] The 1981 election highlighted divisions that existed between the populist wing of Likud, headed by David Levy of Herut, and the Liberal wing,[51] who represented a policy agenda of the secular bourgeoisie.[49]

Shamir and Netanyahu's first term

Likud founder Menachem Begin

On 28 August 1983 Begin announced his intention to resign as prime minister.[52] He was replaced by Yitzhak Shamir, a former commander of the Lehi underground, who defeated Deputy Prime Minister David Levy in a leadership election held by Herut's central committee.[53][54] Shamir was seen as a hard-liner, who opposed the Camp David accords and Israel's withdrawal from Southern Lebanon.[55] The party won 41 seats in the 1984 election, less than the Alignment's 44. The Alignment was unable to form a government on its own, leading to the formation of a rotation government, led jointly by the Alignment and Likud. Shimon Peres became the prime minister, with Shamir becoming the foreign minister.[56] In October 1986, the two switched posts.[57] The Likud won the 1988 election, defeating the Alignment by a one-seat Margin. The two parties formed another government, in which Shamir served as prime minister without a rotation.[58] In 1990 Peres withdrew from the government and led a successful vote of no confidence against it,[59] in what became known as the dirty trick. Shamir formed a new government with right-wing parties, which served until the 1992 election, in which the Likud was defeated by Yitzhak Rabin's Labor Party.[60]

Shamir stepped down as Likud leader after losing the election in March 1993.[61] To replace him, the party held its first primary election,[62] in which former United Nations Ambassador Benjamin Netanyahu[63] defeated David Levy, Benny Begin and Moshe Katsav, becoming the Leader of the Opposition.[64] In 1995, following the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres, his temporary successor, decided to call early elections in order to give the government a mandate to advance the peace process.[65] The election was held in May 1996, and included a direct vote for the prime minister in which Netanyahu narrowly defeated Peres, becoming the new prime minister.[66]

Logo of the Likud-Tzomet List from the 1996 election

In 1998 Netanyahu agreed to cede territory in the Wye River Memorandum, which led some Likud MKs, led by Benny Begin (Menachem Begin's son), Michael Kleiner and David Re'em, to break away and form a new party, named Herut – The National Movement. The new party was endorsed by Yitzhak Shamir, who expressed disappointment in Netanyahu's leadership.[67][68] Following the withdrawal of his remaining partners, Netanyahu's coalition collapsed in December 1998, resulting in the 1999 election,[69] where Labor's Ehud Barak defeated Netanyahu on a platform promoting the settlement of final status issues. Following his defeat, Netanyahu stepped down as leader of Likud.[70] That September, former Defense Minister Ariel Sharon won a leadership election to replace Netanyahu, defeating Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert and former Finance Minister Meir Sheetrit.[71][72]

Barak's government collapsed in December 2000,[73] several months after the Camp David Summit ended without an agreement,[74] and early elections for Prime Minister were called for February 2001, in which Sharon decisively defeated Barak.[75] In 2002 Netanyahu challenged Sharon in a leadership election, but was defeated.[76][unreliable source?] During Sharon's tenure, Likud faced an internal split due to Sharon's policy of unilateral disengagement from Gaza and parts of the West Bank, which proved extremely divisive within the party.[77]

Sharon and Kadima split

Sharon's Disengagement Plan alienated him from some Likud supporters and fragmented the party.[78] He faced several serious challenges to his authority shortly before his departure. The first was in March 2005, when he and Netanyahu, then his finance minister, proposed a budget plan that met fierce opposition from the opposition and parties to the Likud's right. The plan passed the Knesset's finance committee by a one-vote margin,[79] before being approved by the Knesset by a wider margin later that month.[80] The second was in September 2005, when Sharon's critics in the Likud, led by Netanyahu, forced a vote in the Likud's central committee on a proposal for an early leadership election, which was defeated by 52% to 48%.[81] In November, Sharon's opponents within the Likud joined with the opposition to prevent the appointment of three of his associates to the Cabinet, successfully preventing the appointment of two.[82]

On 20 November 2005 Labor announced its withdrawal from Sharon's governing coalition following the election of the left-wing Amir Peretz as its leader.[83] On 21 November 2005, Sharon announced he would be leaving the Likud and forming a new centrist party, Kadima.[84][85] The new party included both Likud and Labor supporters of unilateral disengagement. Sharon also announced that an election would take place in early 2006. Seven candidates had declared themselves as contenders to replace Sharon as leader: Netanyahu,[86] Uzi Landau,[87] Shaul Mofaz,[88] Yisrael Katz,[89] Silvan Shalom and Moshe Feiglin.[90] Landau and Mofaz later withdrew, the former in favour of Netanyahu[91] and the latter to join Kadima.[92]

Netanyahu's second term

Netanyahu went on to win a leadership election to replace Sharon in December, obtaining 44.4% of the vote. Shalom came in a second with 33%, while far-right candidate Moshe Feiglin achieved 12.4% of the vote.[93][94] Due to Shalom's performance, Netanyahu guaranteed him the second place on the party's list of Knesset candidates.[95] Polls before the 2006 election showed a substantial reduction in the Likud's support, with Kadima achieving a dominant polling lead.[96]

A truck canvassing for Likud in Jerusalem in advance of the 2006 election

In January 2006 Sharon suffered a stroke that left him in a vegetative state, leading to his replacement as Kadima leader by Ehud Olmert,[97] who led Kadima to victory in the election, winning 29 seats. The Likud experienced a substantial loss in support, coming in fourth place and winning only 12, while other right-wing nationalist parties such as Yisrael Beiteinu, which came within 116 votes of overtaking Likud, gained votes.[98][99] After the election, Netanyahu was re-elected Likud Leader in 2007, defeating Feiglin and World Likud Chairman Danny Danon.[100][101]

Following the opening of several criminal investigations against Olmert,[102] he resigned as prime minister on 21 September 2008 and retired from politics.[103] In the ensuing snap election, held in 2009, Likud won 27 seats, the second-largest number of seats and one seat less than Kadima, now led by Tzipi Livni. However, Likud's allies won enough seats to allow Netanyahu to form a government, which included Likud, Yisrael Beiteinu, Shas, United Torah Judaism, The Jewish Home, and Labor.[104][105] Labor left the coalition in 2011 after party leader Ehud Barak left to form his own party, Independence, that remained a member of Netanyahu's government.[106] The next year, Netanyahu was re-elected as Likud leader, defeating Moshe Feiglin.[107] Kadima then joined the coalition in May 2012 before leaving in July.[108] Following Kadima's withdrawal from the government and amid disagreements related to the 2013 budget, the Knesset was dissolved in October 2012 and a snap election was called for January 2013.[109]

Partnership with Yisrael Beitenu and 2015 election

Several days after the election was called on 25 October 2012, Netanyahu and Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Lieberman announced that their respective political parties would run together on a single ballot in the election under the name Likud Yisrael Beiteinu.[110] The move led to speculation that Lieberman would eventually seek the leadership of Likud after he stated that he "wanted to become the Prime Minister".[111] Several days before the election, Lieberman said the parties would not merge, and that their direct partnership would end after the election.[112] The partnership ultimately lasted until July 2014, when it officially dissolved.[113]

In the 2013 elections the Likud–Yisrael Beiteinu alliance won 31 seats, 20 of which were Likud members.[114] The second largest party, Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid, won 19.[115] Netanyahu continued as prime minister after forming a coalition with Yesh Atid, the Jewish Home, and Hatnuah.[116] The government collapsed in December 2014 due to disagreements over the budget and the proposed Nation-state bill,[117][118] triggering a snap election the next year.[119]

Likud won the 2015 election, defeating the Zionist Union, an alliance of Labor and Hatnuah, winning 30 seats to the Zionist Union's 24.[120] The party subsequently formed a government with United Torah Judaism, Shas, Kulanu, and the Jewish Home.[121] In May 2016, Yisrael Beitenu joined the government,[122] before leaving in December 2018, causing Netanyahu to call a snap election for April 2019.[123]

2019–2022 elections

During the course of the April 2019 Israeli legislative election campaign, Likud facilitated the formation of the Union of Right-Wing Parties between the Jewish Home, Tkuma and Otzma Yehudit by providing a slot on its own electoral list to Jewish Home candidate Eli Ben-Dahan.[124] In the aftermath of the election, Kulanu merged into Likud.[125]

During the September 2019 Israeli legislative election campaign, Likud agreed to a deal with Zehut, whereby the latter party would drop out of the election and endorse Likud in exchange for a ministerial post for its leader, Moshe Feiglin, as well as policy concessions.[126]

Prior to the 2020 Israeli legislative election Gideon Sa'ar unsuccessfully challenged Netanyahu for the Likud leadership.[127] In December of that year, Sa'ar left Likud, along with four other Likud MKs, to form New Hope.[128]

Prior to the 2021 Israeli legislative election, Gesher merged into Likud, receiving a slot on its electoral list.[129] 2021 marked the first time that Likud put a Muslim on its slate, choosing Muslim school principal Nail Zoabi for 39th on its slate.[130]

Likud also facilitated the formation of a joint list between the Religious Zionist Party, Otzma Yehudit and Noam by providing the Religious Zionist Party a slot on the Likud list.[131] On 14 June, after the swearing-in of the 36th government, Ofir Sofer who held the slot, split from the Likud faction and returned to the Religious Zionist Party, decreasing the Likud faction by one to 29 seats in the Knesset.[132][133]

Likud won the most seats in the 2022 Israeli legislative election.[134]

Ideological positions

Likud emphasizes national security policy based on a strong military force when threatened with continued enmity against Israel. It has shown reluctance to negotiate with its neighbors whom it believes continue to seek the destruction of the Jewish state, that based on the principle of the party founder Menachem Begin concerning the preventive policy to any potential attacks on State of Israel. Its suspicion of neighboring Arab nations' intentions, however, has not prevented the party from reaching agreements with Israel's neighbors, such as the 1979 peace treaty with Egypt. Likud's willingness to enter mutually accepted agreements with neighboring countries over the years is related to the formation of other right-wing parties. Like other right-wing parties in Israel, Likud politicians have sometimes criticized particular Supreme Court decisions, but it remains committed to rule of law principles that it hopes to entrench in a written constitution.[27]

As of 2014, the party remains divided between moderates and hard-liners.[135]

Likud is considered to be the leading party in the national camp in Israeli politics.[136]

Territory

The original 1977 party platform stated that "between the Sea and the Jordan there will only be Israeli sovereignty."[137][138]

The 1999 Likud Party platform emphasized the right of settlement:

The Jewish communities in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza are the realization of Zionist values. Settlement of the land is a clear expression of the unassailable right of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel and constitutes an important asset in the defense of the vital interests of the State of Israel. The Likud will continue to strengthen and develop these communities and will prevent their uprooting.[139]

Similarly, they claim the Jordan River as the permanent eastern border to Israel and it also claims Jerusalem as belonging to Israel.

The 'Peace & Security' chapter of the 1999 Likud Party platform rejects a Palestinian state:

The Government of Israel flatly rejects the establishment of a Palestinian Arab state west of the Jordan river. The Palestinians can run their lives freely in the framework of self-rule, but not as an independent and sovereign state. Thus, for example, in matters of foreign affairs, security, immigration, and ecology, their activity shall be limited in accordance with imperatives of Israel's existence, security and national needs.[139]

With Likud back in power, starting in 2009, Israeli foreign policy is still under review. Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu, in his "National Security" platform, neither endorsed nor ruled out the idea of a Palestinian state.[140] According to Time, "Netanyahu has hinted that he does not oppose the creation of a Palestinian state, but aides say he must move cautiously because his religious-nationalist coalition partners refuse to give away land."[141]

On 14 June 2009, Netanyahu delivered a speech[142] at Bar-Ilan University (also known as "Bar-Ilan Speech"), at Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, that was broadcast live in Israel and across parts of the Arab world, on the topic of the Middle East peace process. He endorsed for the first time the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, with several conditions.

However, on 16 March 2015, Netanyahu stated in the affirmative, that if he were elected, a Palestinian state would not be created.[143] Netanyahu argued, "anyone who goes to create today a Palestinian state and turns over land, is turning over land that will be used as a launching ground for attacks by Islamist extremists against the State of Israel."[143] Some take these statements to mean that Netanyahu and Likud oppose a Palestinian state. After having been criticised by U.S. White House Spokesperson Josh Earnest for the "divisive rhetoric" of his election campaign, on 19 March 2015, Netanyahu retreated to "I don't want a one-state solution. I want a peaceful, sustainable two-state solution. I have not changed my policy."[144]

The Likud Constitution[145] of May 2014 is more vague and ambiguous. Though it contains commitments to the strengthening of Jewish settlement in the West Bank, it does not explicitly rule out the establishment of a Palestinian state.[citation needed]

Economy

The Likud party claims to support a free market capitalist and liberal agenda, though, in practice, it has mostly adopted mixed economic policies. Under the guidance of finance minister and current party leader Benjamin Netanyahu, Likud pushed through legislation reducing value added tax (VAT), income and corporate taxes significantly, as well as customs duty. Likewise, it has instituted free trade (especially with the European Union and the United States) and dismantled certain monopolies (Bezeq and the seaports). Additionally, it has privatized numerous government-owned companies (e.g. El Al and Bank Leumi), and has moved to privatize land in Israel, which until now has been held symbolically by the state in the name of the Jewish people. Netanyahu was the most ardent free-market Israeli finance minister to date. He argued that Israel's largest labor union, the Histadrut, has so much power as to be capable of paralyzing the Israeli economy, and claimed that the main causes of unemployment are laziness and excessive benefits to the unemployed.[citation needed] Under Netanyahu, Likud has and is likely to maintain a comparatively fiscally conservative economic stance. However, the party's economic policies vary widely among members, with some Likud MKs supporting more leftist economic positions that are more in line with popular preferences.[146]

Palestinians

Likud has historically espoused opposition to Palestinian statehood and support of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. However, it has also been the party that carried out the first peace agreements with Arab states. For instance, in 1979, Likud prime minister Menachem Begin signed the Camp David Accords with Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat, which returned the Sinai Peninsula (occupied by Israel in the Six-Day War of 1967) to Egypt in return for peace between the two countries. Yitzhak Shamir was the first Israeli prime minister to meet Palestinian leaders at the Madrid Conference following the Persian Gulf War in 1991. However, Shamir refused to concede the idea of a Palestinian state, and as a result was blamed by some (including United States Secretary of State James Baker) for the failure of the summit. On 14 June 2009, as Prime Minister Netanyahu gave a speech at Bar-Ilan University in which he endorsed a "Demilitarized Palestinian State", though said that Jerusalem must remain the unified capital of Israel.[citation needed]

In 2002, during the Second Intifada, Israel's Likud-led government reoccupied Palestinian towns and refugee camps in the West Bank. In 2005 Ariel Sharon defied the recent tendencies of Likud and abandoned the policy of seeking to settle in the West Bank and Gaza. Though re-elected Prime Minister on a platform of no unilateral withdrawals, Sharon carried out the Gaza disengagement plan, withdrawing from the Gaza Strip, as well as four settlements in the northern West Bank. Though losing a referendum among Likud registered voters, Sharon achieved government approval of this policy by firing most of the cabinet members who opposed the plan before the vote.[citation needed]

Sharon and the faction who supported his disengagement proposals left the Likud party after the disengagement and created the new Kadima party. This new party supported unilateral disengagement from most of the West Bank and the fixing of borders by the Israeli West Bank barrier. The basic premise of the policy was that the Israelis have no viable negotiating partner on the Palestinian side, and since they cannot remain in indefinite occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, Israel should unilaterally withdraw.[citation needed]

Netanyahu, who was elected as the new leader of Likud after Kadima's creation, and Silvan Shalom, the runner-up, both supported the disengagement plan;[147][148] however, Netanyahu resigned his ministerial post before the plan was executed. Most current Likud members support the Jewish settlements in the West Bank and oppose Palestinian statehood and the disengagement from Gaza.[citation needed]

Anyone who wants to thwart the establishment of a Palestinian state has to support bolstering Hamas and transferring money to Hamas. This is part of our strategy – to isolate the Palestinians in Gaza from the Palestinians in the West Bank.

Benjamin Netanyahu, 2019[149][150]

Although settlement activity has continued under recent Likud governments, much of the activity outside the major settlement blocs has been to accommodate the Jewish Home, a coalition partner; support within Likud to build outside the blocs is not particularly strong.[151][152]

Likud, under Netanyahu, is alleged to have intentionally propped up the rule of Hamas in Gaza as a means of dividing the Palestinians politically and using Palestinian extremism drawing the peace process away from a two-state solution.[149]

In the 2019 elections Likud was widely criticized as a "racist party" after scaremongering anti-Arab rhetoric by its members as well as Netanyahu who claimed minority Arabs and Palestinians in Israel as "threats" and "enemies".[153][154][155]

Culture

Ze'ev Jabotinsky

Likud generally advocates free enterprise and nationalism, but it has sometimes compromised these ideals in practice, especially as its constituency has changed. Its support for populist economic programs are at odds with its free enterprise tradition, but are meant to serve its largely nationalistic, lower-income voters in small towns and urban neighborhoods.[156][157]

On religion and state, Likud has a moderate stance,[157] and supports the preservation of status quo. With time, the party has played into the traditional sympathies of its voter base, though the origins and ideology of Likud are secular.[158] Religious parties have come to view it as a more comfortable coalition partner than Labor.[157]

Likud promotes a revival of Jewish culture, in keeping with the principles of Revisionist Zionism. Likud emphasizes such Israeli nationalist themes as the use of the Israeli flag and the victory in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. In July 2018, Likud lawmakers voted a controversial Nation-State bill into law which declares Israel as the "nation-state of the Jewish people".[159][160]

Likud publicly endorses press freedom and promotion of private sector media, which has grown markedly under governments Likud has led. A Likud government headed by Ariel Sharon, however, closed the popular right-wing pirate radio station Arutz Sheva ("Channel 7"). Arutz Sheva was popular with the Jewish settler movement and often criticised the government from a right-wing perspective.[citation needed]

Historically, the Likud and its pre-1948 predecessor, the Revisionist movement advocated secular nationalism. However, the Likud's first prime minister and long-time leader Menachem Begin, though secular himself, cultivated a warm attitude to Jewish tradition and appreciation for traditionally religious Jews—especially from North Africa and the Middle East. This segment of the Israeli population first brought the Likud to power in 1977. Many Orthodox Israelis find the Likud a more congenial party than any other mainstream party, and in recent years also a large group of Haredim, mostly modern Haredim, joined the party and established the Haredi faction in the Likud.[citation needed]

Foreign policy

Since the 1990s, Likud has advocated a hardline stance against Iran and its proxy militias such as the Lebanese Hezbollah.[161][162]

Likud prime ministers Ariel Sharon and Benjamin Netanyahu have typically pursued improved relations with Russia, with Likud using posters of Netanyahu meeting Russian president Vladimir Putin during its September 2019 Israeli legislative election campaign.[163][164] However, since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Likud has been divided, with party leader Netanyahu seeking to maintain working relations with Russia and avoid involvement in the conflict,[165][166] while some MKs, such as Nir Barkat and Yuli Edelstein, have advocated closer alignment with the West against Russia and support for Ukraine in the Russo-Ukrainian war.[167][168]

The Likud government during the 2010s advocated closer ties with Japan, China and India, in order to reduce Israel's dependency on Western Europe.[169] In 2017 Netanyahu described closer Israeli alignment with China as a "marriage made in heaven".[170] Likud has also maintained connections with the ruling political party in India, the Bharatiya Janata Party.[171]

Likud governments have pursued close ties with the Republican Party in the United States, leading to a perception of preference for the Republicans over the rival Democratic Party.[172][173] In 2015 Netanyahu delivered an address to the Republican-held United States Congress without consulting the Democrat presidential administration at the time.[174]

The NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999 drew criticism from the Likud foreign minister Ariel Sharon, who described it as "brutal interventionism".[175] Relations between Serbia and Israel improved during the Netanyahu-led Likud government of the 2010s.[176] Likud has had long-term political ties to the Hungarian ruling party Fidesz, which has led to warm diplomatic relations between Netanyahu's Likud governments and the Hungarian governments of Viktor Orbán.[177]

In recent years, Likud has cultivated ties with European right-wing populist political parties, including the Spanish Vox,[178][179] the Italian Lega,[180] the Portuguese Chega,[181] the Dutch Party for Freedom,[182] the French National Rally,[183][184] the Sweden Democrats,[185][186] the Danish People's Party,[187] the Alliance for the Union of Romanians[188] and the Belgian Vlaams Belang.[189][190]

Composition (1973–1988)

Name Ideology Position Leader
Herut (1973–1988) Right-wing
Liberal (1973–88) Centre-right
National List
(1973–1976; 1981)
Centre
Free Centre
(1973–1977)
Right-wing Shmuel Tamir (1967–1977)
Independent Centre
(1975–76)
Right-wing Eliezer Shostak (1975–76)
Movement for Greater Israel
(1973–1976)
Right-wing Avraham Yoffe (1967–1976)
La'am
(1976–1984)
Centre-right

Leaders

Leader Took office Left office Prime Ministerial tenure Knesset elections Elected/reelected as leader
1 Menachem Begin 1973 1983 1977–1983 1977, 1981
2 Yitzhak Shamir 1983 1993 1983–1984, 1986–1992 1984, 1988, 1992 1983, 1984, and 1992
3 Benjamin Netanyahu 1993 1999 1996–1999 1996, 1999 1993,[71] and 1999 (Jan)[71]
4 Ariel Sharon 1999 2005 2001–2006 2001, 2003 1999 (Sep)[71] and 2002[71]
(3) Benjamin Netanyahu 2005 Incumbent 2009–2021, 2022– 2006, 2009, 2013, 2015, Apr 2019, Sep 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 2005[71] 2007[191] 2012, 2014, and 2019

Leader election process

During Begin's tenure as leader of Herut/Likud, his leadership was effectively unchallenged.[71] From 1983 through 1992, Herut/Likud elected its party leaders through votes held in party agencies.[71] The 1983 and 1984 Herut leadership elections were undertaken through a vote of Herut's Central Committee.[71] The day after Yitzhak Shamir won the 1983 secret ballot vote of the Herut Central Committee to obtain Herut's party leadership, the party leaders of the other Likud coalition member parties announced that they agreed to have Shamir lead the Likud coalition.[192]

The 1992 Likud leadership election was the first held after Likud became a unified party. The 1992 leadership election was held as a vote of the Likud Central Committee.[71] After 1992, the party moved to electing its leaders through votes of its general membership, with the first such vote taking place in 1993.[71]

Party list selection process

Prior to the 2006 election, the Likud's Central Committee relinquished control of selecting the Knesset list to the "rank and file" members at Netanyahu's behest.[193] The aim was to improve the party's reputation, as the central committee had gained a reputation for corruption.[194]

Current MKs

Likud currently has 32 Knesset members. They are listed below in the order that they appeared on the party's list for the 2022 elections.

Party organs

Likud Executive

  • Director General of the Likud: Zuri Siso[195]
  • Deputy DG, head of the Municipal Division, head of the Computer Division: Zuri Siso[195]
  • Manager of the Likud Chairman's Office: Hanni Blaivais[195]
  • Director of Foreign Affairs and Likud spokesperson: Eli Hazan[196]

Likud Central Committee

The Central Committee decides on all matters between party conferences, with the exceptions of matters designated to another organ. As of 2022, the chairman of the Central Committee is Haim Katz.[197]

The Central Committee has a considerable number of members. For example, in one vote, 3,050 members took part in 2005.[198]

Likud Secretariat

The secretariat is the body that elects the director general of the part and the heads various departments. It defines their powers and supervises their activities. As of 2022 the chairman of the secretariat is Haim Katz.[197]

Likud Court

The Court is the supreme judicial organ in all matters of the party.[197]

The Legal Advisor advises the party and its bodies in the matters of the state law and the Party constitution and represents the party before external authorities.[197] The Legal Advisor has a significant power and may overturn the decisions of most of the party bodies, including the Central Committee.[199] As of 2022 the Legal Advisor of the Likud Movement is Avi Halevy.[197]

Likud Youth Movement

The Likud Youth Movement (Noar HaLikud [he], lit. 'Likud Youth', sometimes called 'Young Likud'), is the official body in charge of all young members of Likud.[197] It is a member group of the International Young Democrat Union.[200][201]

Election results

Knesset

Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Status
1973 Menachem Begin 473,309 30.2 (#2)
39 / 120
Increase 7 Opposition
1977[a] 583,968 33.4 (#1)
43 / 120
Increase 4 Coalition
1981 718,941 37.1 (#1)
48 / 120
Increase 3 Coalition
1984 Yitzhak Shamir 661,302 31.9 (#2)
41 / 120
Decrease 7 Coalition
1988 709,305 31.1 (#1)
40 / 120
Decrease 1 Coalition
1992 651,229 24.9 (#2)
32 / 120
Decrease 8 Opposition
1996[b] Benjamin Netanyahu 767,401 25.1 (#2)
22 / 120
Decrease 10 Coalition
1999 468,103 14.1 (#2)
19 / 120
Decrease 3 Opposition
2003 Ariel Sharon 925,279 29.4 (#1)
38 / 120
Increase 19 Coalition
2006 Benjamin Netanyahu 281,996 9.0 (#4)
12 / 120
Decrease 26 Opposition
2009 729,054 21.6 (#2)
27 / 120
Increase 15 Coalition
2013[c] 884,631 23.3 (#1)
20 / 120
Decrease 7 Coalition
2015 984,966 23.4 (#1)
30 / 120
Increase 12 Coalition
Apr 2019 1,138,772 26.5 (#1)
35 / 120
Increase 5 Caretaker
Sep 2019 1,113,617 25.1 (#2)
32 / 120
Decrease 4 Caretaker
2020 1,349,171 29.5 (#1)
36 / 120
Increase 4 Coalition
2021 1,066,892 24.2 (#1)
30 / 120
Decrease 6 Opposition
2022 1,115,049 23.4 (#1)
32 / 120
Increase 2 Coalition
  1. ^ Both members of Shlomtzion joined the party, giving it 45 seats.
  2. ^ Run in coalition with Gesher and Tzomet.
  3. ^ Run in coalition with Yisrael Beiteinu.

Prime minister

Election Candidate Votes % Result
1996 Benjamin Netanyahu 1,501,023 50.5 (#1) Won
1999 Benjamin Netanyahu 1,402,474 43.9 (#2) Lost
2001 Ariel Sharon 1,698,077 62.4 (#1) Won

See also

References

  1. ^
    • Bueno de Mesquita, Bruce (2013). Principles of International Politics. SAGE. p. 69.
    • Utter, Glenn (2004). Conservative Christians and Political Participation. ABC-CLIO. p. 29.
    • El-Gendy, Karim (2018). The Process of Israeli Decision Making. Al-Zaytouna Centre. p. 192.
    • Neack, Laura (2018). Studying Foreign Policy Comparatively. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 43. ISBN 978-1-5381-0963-2.
    • The Middle East: From Transition to Development. Brill. 2022. p. 64. ISBN 978-90-04-47667-7.
  2. ^
    • Daniel Tauber (13 August 2010). "Ze'ev Jabotinsky (1880-1940)". Likud Anglos. Archived from the original on 22 February 2011. Jabotinsky's movement and teachings, which can be characterized as national-liberalism, form the foundation of the Likud party.
    • McGann, James G.; Johnson, Erik C. (2005). Comparative Think Tanks, Politics and Public Policy. Edward Elgar Publishing. p. 241. ISBN 978-1-78195-899-5. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2016. The Likud Party, the party of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, is a national-liberal party, while the Labor Party, led by Shimon Peres, is more left-wing and identified as social-democratic.
    • "Meet the parties – Likud". Haaretz. 2015. Archived from the original on 16 May 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2015. A national-liberal political movement (center-right, in Israeli terms) that was established as an alliance of parties that united into a single party in 1984.
  3. ^ Watzal, Ludwig (1999). Peace Enemies The Past and Present Conflict Between Israel and Palestine. PASSIA. p. 28.
  4. ^ Grübel, Monika (1997). Judaism. Barron's. p. 191. ISBN 978-0-7641-0051-2.
  5. ^ "Israel: Cracks in the Facade". Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung. 23 January 2023. Archived from the original on 30 January 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023. Benjamin Netanyahu's national-conservative party Likud
  6. ^ [3][4][5]
  7. ^ "Israel election: Who are the key candidates?". BBC News. 14 March 2015. Archived from the original on 20 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  8. ^
    • Shafir, Gershon (2002). Being Israeli: The Dynamics of Multiple Citizenship. Cambridge University Press. p. 30.
    • Moghadam, Valentine (2020). Globalization and Social Movements. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 201.
    • Langford, Barry (2017). All Together Now. Biteback Publishing. Netanyahu, leader of the right-wing populist party Likud, ran for re-election
  9. ^ "Guide to Israel's political parties". BBC News. 21 January 2013. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  10. ^ Amnon Rapoport (1990). Experimental Studies of Interactive Decisions. Kluwer Academic. p. 413. ISBN 978-0-7923-0685-6. Likud is a liberal-conservative party that gains much of its support from the lower and middle classes, and promotes free enterprise, nationalism, and expansionism.
  11. ^ Joel Greenberg (22 November 1998). "The World: Pursuing Peace; Netanyahu and His Party Turn Away from 'Greater Israel'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2015. Likud, despite defections, had joined Labor in accepting the inevitability of territorial compromise.... Revolutionary as it may seem, Likud's abandonment of its maximalist vision has in fact been evolving for years.
  12. ^ Ethan Bronner (20 February 2009). "Netanyahu, Once Hawkish, Now Touts Pragmatism". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 19 May 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2015. Likud as a party has made a major transformation in the last 15 years from being rigidly committed to retaining all the land of Israel to looking pragmatically at how to retain for Israel defensible borders in a very uncertain Middle East....
  13. ^ [11][12]
  14. ^ Karsh, Efraim (2013). Israel: The First Hundred Years: Politics and Society since 1948. Vol. 3. Routledge. p. 141. ISBN 978-1-135-26278-5. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  15. ^ "Likud – political party, Israel". Britannica.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.|"Guide to Israel's political parties". Bbc.com. 4 November 2017. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  16. ^ Ishaan Tharoor (14 March 2015). "A guide to the political parties battling for Israel's future". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  17. ^ "Israel: New Netanyahu government vows to expand settlements". Deutsche Welle. 28 December 2022. Archived from the original on 10 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023. Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud Party announced its key policy priorities for the new Israeli government on Wednesday, with settlement expansion at the top of the list.
  18. ^ "Israel chooses Knesset speaker as forming new government looms". Al Jazeera. 13 December 2022. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023. Yariv Levin, a senior member of Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party, was chosen on Tuesday to replace Mickey Levy.
  19. ^ "Benjamin Netanyahu Fast Facts". CNN. 29 December 2022. Archived from the original on 17 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023. Leader of the right-wing Likud Party.
  20. ^ "With most votes now counted, Netanyahu seems poised to return as Israel's leader". NPR. 2 November 2022. Archived from the original on 2 November 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2023. His right-wing Likud Party is the clear frontrunner. His main ally, the far-right Religious Zionism party, made historic gains in Tuesday's vote,
  21. ^ "Senior member of Netanyahu's party breaks away as Israeli election beckons". Reuters. 9 December 2020. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023. A prominent rival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the right-wing Likud party announced on Tuesday a breakaway bid aimed at defeating the Israeli leader in a looming early national election.,
  22. ^ [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]
  23. ^ Member parties Archived 12 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine European Conservatives and Reformists Party
  24. ^ International Democracy Union (1 February 2018). "Members | International Democracy Union Member Parties". Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  25. ^ "הליכוד בהנהגת בנימין נתניהו לראשות הממשלה". Central Election Committee for the Knesset. Archived from the original on 1 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  26. ^ Galanti, S. B.-R.; Aaronson, W. E.; Schnell, I. (2001). "Power and changes in the balance between ideology and pragmatism in the right wing Likud Party". GeoJournal. 53 (3): 263–272. Bibcode:2001GeoJo..53..263B. doi:10.1023/A:1019585912714. ISSN 0343-2521. JSTOR 41147612. S2CID 146442369.
  27. ^ a b Baskin, Judith Reesa, ed. (2010). The Cambridge Dictionary of Judaism and Jewish Culture. Cambridge University Press. p. 304. ISBN 978-0-521-82597-9. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2015. To overcome Labor Party dominance, the bulk of center-right parties formed Likud.... In the early twenty-first century, Likud remains a major factor in the center-right political bloc.
  28. ^ David Seddon, ed. (2013). A Political and Economic Dictionary of the Middle East. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-135-35561-6. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023. Likud is centre-right, strongly nationalistic and assertive in foreign policy.
  29. ^ Bsisu, Naji (Spring 2012). "Israeli Domestic Politics and the War in Lebanon" (PDF). Lights: The MESSA Journal. 1 (3). University of Chicago: 29–38. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 August 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  30. ^ Benjamin Kerstein (10 April 2019). "Israeli Elections Results: Likud Tied With Blue and White, But Right-Wing Bloc Remains Larger, Handing Netanyahu the Victory". Algemeiner Journal. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  31. ^ Staff writer (24 September 2019). "Likud wins extra seat at expense of UTJ as election committee adjusts results". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  32. ^ "Final Election Results: Netanyahu Bloc Short of Majority With 58 Seats". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  33. ^ "Netanyahu: A shrewd leader who reshaped Israel". BBC News. 13 June 2021. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  34. ^ "Naftali Bennett: The rise of Israel's new PM". BBC News. 31 May 2021. Archived from the original on 23 July 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  35. ^ Williams, Dan (29 December 2022). "Israel's Netanyahu returns with hard-right cabinet set to expand settlements". Reuters. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  36. ^ "Likudnik". Milon Morfix. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  37. ^ Sterman, Daniel (22 February 2019). "A Faction Is Not a Party – Part 2". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  38. ^ Rabinovich, Itamar; Reinharz, Jehuda, eds. (2008). Israel in the Middle East: Documents and Readings on Society, Politics, and Foreign Relations, Pre-1948 to the Present. Brandeis University Press. p. 462.
  39. ^ אמנת הליכוד נחתמה סופית. National Library of Israel (in Hebrew). 14 September 1973. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  40. ^ "Likud". Knesset. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
  41. ^ "הליכוד". Israel Democracy Institute (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 28 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  42. ^ Peled, Yoav (2001). "Roar of the Lion: Shas and the Challenge to Israeli Identity". Israel Studies Bulletin. 16 (2): 9. ISSN 1065-7711. JSTOR 41805449.
  43. ^ Kaufman, Karen (28 March 2019). "The Parties in Israel's 2019 Parliamentary Election". Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Likud was founded as a secular, centre-right party.
  44. ^ Kerstein, Benjamin (10 April 2019). "Israeli Elections Results: Likud Tied With Blue and White, But Right-Wing Bloc Remains Larger, Handing Netanyahu the Victory". Algemeiner Journal. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  45. ^ Oren, Amir (7 July 2011). "British Documents Reveal: Begin Refused Entry to U.K. in 1950s". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 27 November 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  46. ^ "Camp David Accords". Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Archived 3 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  47. ^ "Israel and Egypt: Framework for peace in the Middle East agreed at Camp David" (PDF). UN Peacemaker. United Nations Treaty Series. 17 September 1978. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  48. ^ "Likudnik". Milon Morfix. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  49. ^ a b Hirschl, Ran (2004). Towards Juristocracy: The Origins and Consequences of the New Constitutionalism. Harvard University Press. pp. 57, 58. ISBN 978-0-674-03867-7.
  50. ^ Moskovich, Yaffa (2009). "Authoritarian Management Style in the Likud Party Under the Leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu" (PDF). International Journal of Leadership Studies. 4 (2): 152. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  51. ^ Freedman, Robert Owen. Israel in the Begin Era. Praeger. p. 25. These divisions were especially underscored in the 1981 elections. During the Likud's first period in power there was a continuous conflict between the populist wing of the Likud, headed by David Levi of Herut, and the Liberal wing, along with...
  52. ^ Hart, William (29 August 1983). "Jewish leaders cite many factors leading to Begin's resignation". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  53. ^ Shipler, David K. (3 September 1983). "Shamir Wins the Backing of Factions in the Coalition". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  54. ^ Brinkley, Joel (30 June 2012). "Yitzhak Shamir, Former Israeli Prime Minister, Dies at 96". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  55. ^ Friedman, Thomas L. (21 October 1986). "Man in the News; Israel's Other Half: Yitzhak Shamir". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  56. ^ בחירות 1984. Israel Democracy Institute (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  57. ^ "Shamir cabinet sworn in, according to rotation". The New York Times. 21 October 1986. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 5 November 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  58. ^ בחירות 1988. Israel Democracy Institute (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  59. ^ Brinkley, Joel (16 March 1990). "Cabinet Is Ousted In Israeli Dispute Over Peace Talks". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2008.
  60. ^ בחירות 1992. Israel Democracy Institute (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 24 November 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  61. ^ "Obituary: former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir". BBC News. 30 June 2012. Archived from the original on 6 July 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  62. ^ LaBelle, G. G. (25 March 1993). "Israel's Likud set to pick new leader". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. The Associated Press. Archived from the original on 4 November 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  63. ^ "Knesset Member Benjamin Netanyahu". Knesset. Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  64. ^ Haberman, Clyde (26 March 1993). "Israel's Likud Passes Torch, Naming Netanyahu Leader". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  65. ^ Kessel, Jerrold (11 February 1996). "Israeli elections will test support for peace". CNN. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  66. ^ ראש הממשלה נתניהו. זוכרים?. Maariv nrg. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  67. ^ "Shamir, Opposing Netanyahu, Takes Further Turn to Right". The New York Times. 25 March 1999. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  68. ^ "Kleiner Promoting Alternative to 'Disengagement' in the US". Israel National News. 20 July 2004. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  69. ^ Wilkinson, Tracy (22 December 1998). "Lawmakers in Israel Dissolve Parliament". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  70. ^ Laub, Karin (18 May 1999). "Barak Defeats Netanyahu in Israel". AP News. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  71. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Kenig, Ofer (2009). "Democratizing Party Leadership Selection in Israel: A Balance Sheet". Israel Studies Forum. 24 (1): 62–81. ISSN 1557-2455. JSTOR 41805011.
  72. ^ Lavie, Mark (3 September 1999). "Ariel Sharon wins control of Likud party in Israel". The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Associated Press. Archived from the original on 5 November 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  73. ^ Bar-Gefen, Linoy (10 December 2000). ברק הגיש בצהריים את התפטרותו. ynet (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  74. ^ "Trilateral Statement on the Middle East Peace Summit at Camp David". US Department of State. 25 July 2000. Archived from the original on 24 October 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  75. ^ Sontag, Deborah (7 February 2001). "The Sharon Victory: The Overview; Sharon Easily Ousts Barak To Become Israel's Premier; Calls For A Reconciliation". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  76. ^ "Sharon Beats Netanyahu in Likud Primary". Fox News Channel. 28 November 2002. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
  77. ^ "Early Election Likely To Follow Gaza Pullout". Forbes. 5 September 2005. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  78. ^ Myre, Greg (28 May 2004). "Facing Opposition, Sharon Plans Debate on Full Withdrawal". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  79. ^ "Sharon budget clears first hurdle". Al-Jazeera. 25 March 2005. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  80. ^ הכנסת אישרה את תקציב המדינה לשנת 2005. Ynet (in Hebrew). 29 March 2005. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  81. ^ Myre, Greg (26 September 2005). "Sharon Faces Leadership Vote Forced by Political Opponents". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  82. ^ Mualem, Mazal; Alon, Gideon (7 November 2005). שרון נכשל בכנסת , אולמרט אושר בנפרד. Haaretz (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  83. ^ Somfalvi, Attila (20 November 2005). פרץ במרכז העבודה: "מי למהפך החברתי - אלי". Ynet (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  84. ^ Marciano, Ilan; Somfalvi, Attila (20 November 2005). שרון החליט לפרוש מהליכוד. Ynet (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  85. ^ Sofer, Roni (23 November 2005). רשמית: מפלגת שרון - "קדימה" - יצאה לדרך. Ynet (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  86. ^ Somfalvi, Attila (27 November 2005). נתניהו פותח את הקמפיין להנהגת הליכוד [Netanyahu begins campaign for leadership of the Likud]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  87. ^ Somfalvi, Attila (9 August 2005). לנדאו הכריז על מועמדותו לראשות הליכוד [Landau has announced his candidacy for the chairmanship of the Likud]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  88. ^ Somfalvi, Attila (24 November 2005). מרכז הליכוד אישר: הפריימריז בחודש הבא [The Likud's central committee has confirmed: Primaries will happen next month]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  89. ^ Ynet, כתבי (11 December 2005). כץ על עזיבת מופז: "מכה לאמינות הפוליטיקאים" [Katz on Mofaz's departure: "A blow to trust in politicians"]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  90. ^ Hasson, Miri (30 November 2005). פייגלין הודיע שיתמודד בליכוד: "צריך מסורת" [Feiglin announced he would run in the Likud: "Tradition is Needed"]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  91. ^ Marciano, Ilan; Somfalvi, Attila (5 December 2005). עוזי לנדאו פורש מהמירוץ, תומך בנתניהו [Uzi Landau withdraws from race, supports Netanyahu]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  92. ^ Sofer, Roni (11 December 2005). מופז עוזב את הליכוד, עובר לקדימה [Mofaz leaves Likud, moves to Kadima]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  93. ^ Marciano, Ilan; Somfalvi, Attila (19 December 2005). נתניהו: נחזור להנהגה, כולנו הולכים קדימה [Netanyahu: we will return to leadership, we are all moving forwards]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  94. ^ ToI Staff. "Far-right ex-MK Feiglin dips feet back into Likud after failed solo Knesset run". Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 25 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  95. ^ Zohar, Avishay (21 December 2005). נתניהו לשלום: אשריין לך את המקום השני. Makor Rishon. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  96. ^ "Netanyahu set for Sharon clash". CNN. 19 December 2005. Archived from the original on 25 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  97. ^ Joffe, Lawrence (11 January 2014). "Ariel Sharon obituary". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 25 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  98. ^ "בחירות 2006". www.idi.org.il (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  99. ^ "Every Vote Counts". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  100. ^ תוצאות סופיות בליכוד: נתניהו עם 73% הביס את פייגלין מהימין הקיצוני עם 23%. TheMarker. Archived from the original on 2 May 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  101. ^ סיכום פריימריס 2007 לפי אתר הצבעה (PDF). Likud (in Hebrew). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  102. ^ Kershner, Isabel (31 July 2008). "Olmert to Quit After Elections in September". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  103. ^ Madzini, Ronen (21 September 2008). תם עידן: אולמרט הגיש מכתב התפטרות לנשיא. Ynet (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 28 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  104. ^ "2009 Israeli election". Israel Democracy Institute. Archived from the original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  105. ^ בחירות 2009 | אביגדור ליברמן אמר את דברו: בנימין נתניהו יהיה ראש הממשלה הבא. Haaretz (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  106. ^ Somfalvi, Attila (17 January 2011). אהוד ברק כתב: נמשיך את מסורת מפא"י. Ynet (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  107. ^ "Netanyahu won the Likud battle, but he may lose the war". Haaretz. 3 February 2012. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  108. ^ Azulay, Moran; Somfalvi, Attila (17 July 2012). מופז פרש מהממשלה: "נתניהו בחר במשתמטים". Ynet (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  109. ^ "Israeli parliament dissolved ahead of early elections". The Guardian. 16 October 2012. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  110. ^ Leshem, Elie. "Netanyahu, Liberman announce they'll run joint list for Knesset". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 27 October 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  111. ^ "Liberman: Every politician wants to become PM". The Jerusalem Post. 26 October 2012. Archived from the original on 11 October 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  112. ^ Verter, Yossi (6 January 2013). "Lieberman: Yisrael Beiteinu's marriage to Likud ends at election". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  113. ^ Gur, Haviv Rettig. "Liberman dissolves Likud-Beytenu Knesset partnership". Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 4 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  114. ^ Sanders, Edmund (2 February 2013). "Netanyahu officially asked to put together new Israeli government". The Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  115. ^ תוצאות האמת: ליכוד 31, לפיד 19, עבודה רק 15. Ynet (in Hebrew). 23 January 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  116. ^ "Jewish Home, Yesh Atid ink coalition deal with Likud-Beytenu". Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  117. ^ "Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu fires 2 ministers, election likely". CBC News. 2 December 2014. Archived from the original on 4 May 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  118. ^ "Netanyahu says Israel could be headed to early election". Reuters. 1 December 2014. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  119. ^ "Times of Israel". Knesset votes to dissolve, sets new elections for March 17. 8 December 2014. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  120. ^ "Netanyahu scores crushing victory in Israeli elections". Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  121. ^ Rudoren, Jodi (6 May 2015). "Netanyahu Forms an Israeli Government, With Minutes to Spare". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  122. ^ Liebermann, Oren (25 May 2016). "Israel's Netanyahu moves government further to the right". CNN. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  123. ^ Wootliff, Raoul. "20th Knesset officially dissolves, sets elections for April 9, 2019". Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  124. ^ "Top Posts for Merging With Kahanists: Netanyahu, Far-right Party Reach Deal". Haaretz. 20 February 2019. Archived from the original on 10 November 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  125. ^ Newman, Marissa. "Likud okays merger with Kulanu, confirms Netanyahu as PM candidate". Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 28 May 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  126. ^ Hoffman, Gil (29 August 2019). "Netanyahu promises Feiglin ministry so that Zehut Party ends race". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  127. ^ Wootliff, Raoul (27 December 2019). "Netanyahu quashes Likud leadership challenge from Sa'ar with over 72%". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  128. ^ "'He's dangerous': Ex-Likud MK who joined Sa'ar rules out gov't with Netanyahu". Times of Israel. 27 December 2020. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  129. ^ "Likud edges up, Left bloc slumps in polls". Israel Hayom. 8 February 2021. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  130. ^ "Netanyahu's Likud Names Muslim Candidate to Woo Israel's Arabs". Bloomberg.com. 4 February 2021. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  131. ^ "Israel elections: Netanyahu pushes Kahanist into Knesset". Jerusalem Post. 3 February 2021. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  132. ^ "Official: Ofir Sofer returns to the Religious Zionist Party". Srugim (in Hebrew). 14 June 2021. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  133. ^ "Ophir Sofer returns, Yamina waiting for Shai Maimon". Arutz 7 (in Hebrew). 14 June 2021. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  134. ^ Kingsley, Patrick (3 November 2022). "Lapid Concedes in Israel, Paving Way for Netanyahu's Return to Power". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  135. ^ Josef Federman (2 December 2014). "Israeli government crumbles; new election planned". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015. Netanyahu's own Likud party is divided between more-centrist old timers and a young guard of hard-line ideologues.
  136. ^ Shamir, Michal (2017). The Elections in Israel 2015. Taylor & Francis. p. 77.
  137. ^ "Original Party Platform of the Likud Party". Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  138. ^ "Archived copy". NPR. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  139. ^ a b "Likud – Platform". knesset.gov.il. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 4 September 2008.
  140. ^ "Benjamin Netanyahu – National Security". En.netanyahu.org.il. Archived from the original on 29 March 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  141. ^ McGirk, Tim (18 May 2009). "Israel's Netanyahu: Taking a Turn Toward Pragmatism?". Time. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  142. ^ "Full text of Netanyahu's foreign policy speech at Bar Ilan". Haaretz. 14 June 2009. Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  143. ^ a b Barak Ravid. "Netanyahu: If I'm elected, there will be no Palestinian state". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 20 March 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  144. ^ Harriet Salem (19 March 2015). "Netanyahu Backtracks on Election Pledge to Refuse a Two-State Solution After Sharp Words from the US". Vice News. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  145. ^ הליכוד תנועה לאומית ליברלית: חוקת התנועה (PDF). Likud.org.il (in Hebrew). Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 August 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  146. ^ "MK Regev calls for 80% tax on top earners". Globes. 23 May 2010. Archived from the original on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  147. ^ "Shalom supports disengagement plan". Globes. 19 April 2004. Archived from the original on 1 July 2015.
  148. ^ Mualem, Mazal (19 April 2004). "Netanyahu, Livnat support Sharon's disengagement plan". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  149. ^ a b Beauchamp, Zack (9 October 2023). "Benjamin Netanyahu failed Israel". Vox. Archived from the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  150. ^ Shumsky, Dmitry (11 October 2023). "Why Did Netanyahu Want to Strengthen Hamas?". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 15 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  151. ^ "Win in Israel Sets Netanyahu on Path to Rebuild and Redefine Government". The New York Times. 18 March 2015. Archived from the original on 17 July 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  152. ^ Rudoren, Jodi; Ashkenas, Jeremy (12 March 2015). "Netanyahu and the Settlements". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  153. ^ Halbfinger, David M. (24 February 2019). "Netanyahu Sparks Outrage Over Pact With Racist Party". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 25 February 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  154. ^ Holmes, Oliver (18 September 2019). "Arab turnout in Israel election rises despite racist campaigns". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  155. ^ Tarnopolsky, Noga (3 August 2020). "Netanyahu ramps up anti-Arab rhetoric". The Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  156. ^ Sharkansy, Ira (2003). Coping with Terror: An Israeli Perspective. Lexington. p. 65. ISBN 978-0-7391-0684-6.
  157. ^ a b c "Israeli Elections and Parties: Likud". The Israel Democracy Institute. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  158. ^ Arian, Asher (2004). "Chapter Seven: Elections and Voting Patterns". In Rebhun, Uzi; Waxman, Chaim Isaac (eds.). Jews in Israel: Contemporary Social and Cultural Patterns. Tauber Institute for the Study of European Jewry series. University Press of New England. p. 191. ISBN 978-1-58465-327-1. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  159. ^ "Knesset passes Jewish nation-state bill into law". Knesset. Archived from the original on 19 January 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  160. ^ "Press Releases from the Knesset". Knesset. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  161. ^ Parsi, Trita (28 October 2008), "16 With Likud, the Periphery Doctrine Returns", Treacherous Alliance, Yale University Press, pp. 190–201, doi:10.12987/9780300138061-018, ISBN 978-0-300-13806-1, retrieved 13 August 2024
  162. ^ "I24NEWS". 21 February 2022.
  163. ^ "Why Israel Has Been Slow to Support Ukraine | Council on Foreign Relations". www.cfr.org. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  164. ^ "Likud adorns HQ with Trump, Putin, Modi". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 28 July 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  165. ^ "Netanyahu blames PM for Russia 'crisis'; Lapid: You haven't bothered to get updates". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  166. ^ "Netanyahu tells government to be quiet on Russia and focus on Iran". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  167. ^ Rod, Marc (18 March 2022). "Likud's Nir Barkat: Israel shouldn't be mediating Russia-Ukraine war". Jewish Insider. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  168. ^ "Likud, opposition MKs urge upped support for Ukraine, including missile defense". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  169. ^ Horesh, Niv (2016), Horesh, Niv (ed.), "Does Likud Have a "Look East" Option?", Toward Well-Oiled Relations? China’s Presence in the Middle East Following the Arab Spring, London: Palgrave Macmillan UK, pp. 125–147, doi:10.1057/9781137539793_9, ISBN 978-1-137-53979-3, retrieved 13 August 2024
  170. ^ Tiezzi, Shannon. "Israel and China a 'Marriage Made in Heaven,' Says Netanyahu". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  171. ^ Bhattacherjee, Kallol (1 May 2024). "Israel's Likud among foreign parties invited by BJP to witness election". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  172. ^ "'Netanyahu is essentially an Israeli Republican'". Politico. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  173. ^ Brownstein, Ronald (7 May 2024). "Analysis: Biden faces widening partisan split over Israel | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  174. ^ McGreal, Chris (24 February 2015). "How Netanyahu's speech to Congress has jeopardised US-Israel relations". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  175. ^ Ariel Sharon... by Robert Fisk Archived 26 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine Friday 6 January 2006, The Independent
  176. ^ "Serbian-Israeli Relations Flourish, as if the 1990s Never Happened". Haaretz. 22 December 2014.
  177. ^ "The Roots of Orban's Strong Bond with Israel and its PM". Balkan Insight. 14 November 2023.
  178. ^ "Spain's far-right party visits Israel, strengthens ties with Likud". Anadolu Agency. 12 May 2023.
  179. ^ "Israeli minister addresses convention hosted by Vox, Spanish far-right party criticized for neo-Nazi ties". The Forward. 19 May 2024.
  180. ^ "Salvini prepara il suo cantiere nero per sorpassare Meloni in Europa". Repubblica. 11 October 2023.
  181. ^ "Salvini (esperado) e partido de Netanyahu (surpresa) foram apoiar Ventura. PSD cancelou e IL também mudou de ideias (sem explicar porquê)". Expresso. 30 May 2021.
  182. ^ "Likud sends support to anti-Islam Wilders while courting Islamists at home". Jerusalem Post. 18 April 2021.
  183. ^ "Diaspora Affairs Minister Chikli Stands by Praise for France's Le Pen – Exclusive". The Media Line. 7 October 2024.
  184. ^ "France's Macron slams Israeli minister's backing of Marine Le Pen". Al Jazeera. 10 July 2024.
  185. ^ "Seizing on pro-Israel stance, Likud poised to move closer to far-Right parties in Europe". Israel Hayom. 12 June 2023.
  186. ^ "Likud poised to end boycott of Swedish nationalist party". JNS. 13 June 2023.
  187. ^ "Likud aims to build ties with conservative parties abroad". Jerusalem Post. 7 September 2015.
  188. ^ "Israeli Pivot Toward European Far Right Pushed by Likud Lawmaker". Haaretz. 4 August 2023.
  189. ^ Hawley, Charles (29 July 2011). "The Likud Connection: Europe's Right-Wing Populists Find Allies in Israel – SPIEGEL ONLINE". Der Spiegel.
  190. ^ "Boycotted by Jews in Belgium, Welcomed by Likud Deputy Minister in Israel". Haaretz. 30 March 2014.
  191. ^ Heller, Jeffrey (14 August 2007). "Israel's Netanyahu wins re-election as Likud chief". Reuters. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  192. ^ Riley, Susan (12 September 1983). "Shamir takes the helm". Maclean's. Archived from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  193. ^ Hoffman, Gil (1 March 2006). "Central committee strips itself of power". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  194. ^ "Israeli media vents fury at Likud". BBC News. 17 December 2002. Archived from the original on 3 May 2004. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  195. ^ a b c "Organs of the Likud – The Likud Party". Likud. Archived from the original on 5 April 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  196. ^ "מוסדות התנועה - מפלגת הליכוד". Likud. Archived from the original on 5 April 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  197. ^ a b c d e f Organs of the Likud Archived 16 September 2019 at the Wayback Machine (retrieved May 24, 2022)
  198. ^ "Likud votes in favor of Sharon" Archived 24 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine, IMEMC, September 26, 2005
  199. ^ "Likud legal adviser: No second leadership race". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 12 November 2014. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  200. ^ "DRAFT Minutes, IDU Executive Committee, Chaired by IDU Chairman John Howard" (PDF). Seoul: International Democrat Union (IDU). 20 November 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  201. ^ "Members". International Young Democrat Union (IDYU). Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2015.