Moledet

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Moledet (Hebrew מולדת, literally homeland) is a small right-wing political party in Israel. It advocates the notion of voluntary transfer of the Palestinian population of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Moledet was founded in 1988 by Rehavam Zeevi, who headed it until his murder by members of the PFLP in 2001, after which Rabbi Benny Elon was elected as chairman. In 1999, Moledet united with Herut – The National Movement and Tkuma to form the National Union (איחוד לאומי, pronounce Ihud Leumi). Later Herut left the Union. In 2003, Israel Beytenu (led by Avigdor Lieberman) joined the National Union, and became the largest party in it, but subsequently left and ran on a separate list for the 2006 elections. During those elections the National Religious Party ran on a joint list with the National Union.

While other parties (Kach, National Union) have advocated transfer, Moledet is the party most associated with this notion in Israel, due to its almost lack of any other element in its platform, and due to Zeevi's success in bringing together opposing elements (in particular, both secular and religious) under the transfer flag. In contrast to Kach, Moledet only advocates voluntary transfer.

Throughout its existence, Moledet remained a small party and never exceeded 3 members of the Knesset (out of 120). As of 2004, it has two Knesset Members, Elon and Professor Arie Eldad. In its beginnings, it was considered unsuitable to participate in the coalition. As the political tensions in Israel exacerbated—and possibly because it was at that time part of the National Union, which was not so clearly associated with the notion of transfer—it finally joined the coalition in 2001. Zeevi was made minister of tourism and served in this position until his assassination, after which Elon replaced him. He was dismissed in mid-2004 due to his opposition to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Gaza withdrawal plan.