Liberalism in Israel

Many liberal political parties in Israel's history can claim substantial popular support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament (the Knesset).

Since Israel's founding, liberals have been active in politics. Note that the label "liberal" was also used by a conservative party that derived from the liberal current. At the moment Shinui, meaning "change" in Hebrew, represents liberalism by being a strongly anti-clerical, pro-free market liberal party. Shinui is a member of Liberal International.

While liberalism is usually suspicious of nationalism, Jewish liberals in Israel generally support some form of Zionism. By contrast, Balad draws upon liberal values in its aim to eliminate discrimination against Arabs and to redefine Israel as a state for all its citizens rather than a Jewish state.

1 Timeline
2 Liberal leaders
3 See also

[edit] Timeline

[edit] From General Zionists to Liberal Party

1922: Centrists in the Zionist Organisation form the Organization of General Zionists (Zionim Klaliim).
1931–1945 General Zionists split into "Faction A" and "Faction B" over liberal issues such as economics, social issues and orientation to the Histadrut. Factions A and B merge in 1945.
1961: The party merges with the Progressive Party to become the Liberal Party (Miflaga Liberalit).
1965: The ML splits up, the conservatives continue as the Liberal Party which joins Herut to form Gahal (eventually becoming Likud), the liberal faction forms the Independent Liberal Party.
1988: The ML and Herut factions formally merge transforming Likud from an electoral coalition to a unitary political party.

[edit] From Progressive Party to Independent Liberal Party

1949: Liberals form the Progressive Party (Miflaga Progresivit)
1961: The party merges with the General Zionists to become the Liberal Party (Miflaga Liberalit)
1965: The ML splits up, the conservatives continue as the Liberal Party, the liberals forming the Independent Liberal Party (Mifleget Liberalim Atzmaiim)
1980s: The MLA disappears.

[edit] From Shinui to Shinui

1973: Amnon Rubinstein forms the protest party Shinui (שינוי)
1976: Shinui merges with the newly founded Democratic Party (Miflaga Demokratit) to become the Democratic Movement for Change (Tenua Demokratit le-Shinui, Dash)
1978: Dash splits up into the Democratic Movement (Tenua Demokratit), that is unsuccessful, and the Movement for Change and Initiative (Tenua le-Shinui ve Yozma)
1981: The party renames itself "Shinui," and in 1988 becomes the "Shinui-Center Party" (Shinui-Mifleget ha-Merkaz)
1992: The party merges with Mapam and Ratz to form Meretz, a left wing party with social democrat tendencies.
1998: Avraham Poraz splits with Meretz and recreates Shinui as an independent party.
1999: Joseph (Tommy) Lapid is invited by Poraz to head Shinui.
2006: Tommy Lapid leaves Shinui and Avraham Poraz secedes to form Hetz.