One Israel (1980)

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For the alliance of Labour, Gesher and Meimad, see One Israel.

One Israel (Hebrew: ישראל אחת, Yisrael Akhat) was a short-lived, one-man political party in Israel led by Yitzhak Yitzhaky.

[edit] Background

The formation of One Israel during the ninth Knesset was largely precipitated by Menachem Begin's controversial decision to sign the Camp David Accords and the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty despite opposition within his own party, Likud. Internal disagreements led to seven MKs deserting the party in 1980 (though one later returned).

Three set up Rafi – National List, two founded Tehiya and Yosef Tamir defected to Shinui. In September 1980 Yitzhak Yitzhaky also left the party, despite only having joined the Likud during the Knesset session, having been elected on the Shlomtzion list (which had merged into Likud soon after the election). He initially set himself up as an independent MK, but after about a month he established the One Israel faction on 14 October, 1980.

Yitzhaky asked American-Israeli basketball legend Tal Brody to join the party, but was rebuffed. It later disappeared after failing to cross the 1% electoral threshold in the 1981 elections.