Likud

Likud
Leader	Benjamin Netanyahu
Founded	1973 (1973)
Headquarters	Metzudat Ze'ev 38 King George Street Tel Aviv, Israel
Ideology	Liberal conservatism Revisionist Zionism[1][2]
Knesset	27 / 120
Website
www.likud.org.il
Politics of Israel Political parties Elections

Likud (Hebrew: הַלִכּוּד‎ HaLikud, lit. The Consolidation) is the major center-right political party in Israel.^[3][4][5][6] It was founded in 1973 by Menachem Begin in an alliance with several right-wing and liberal parties. Likud's 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. However, after ruling the country for most of the 1980s, the party has won only one Knesset election since 1992, in 2003. However, Likud's candidate Benjamin Netanyahu did win the vote for Prime Minister in 1996 and was given the task to form a government after the 2009 elections. After a convincing win in the 2003 elections, Likud saw a major split in 2005, when Likud leader Ariel Sharon left the party to form the new Kadima party. This resulted in Likud slumping to fourth place in 2006 elections. Following the 2009 elections, the party appears to have mostly recovered from its loss, and now leads the Israeli government under Prime Minister Netanyahu.

A member of the party is often called a Likudnik (Hebrew: לִכּוּדְנִיק‎).^[7]

Contents 1 Ideological positions 1.1 Economy 1.2 Palestinian policy 1.2.1 Likud charter 1.3 Anti-Arab statements by Likud members 1.4 Culture 2 History 3 Leaders 4 Current MKs 5 Other prominent members 6 See also 7 References 8 External links

Ideological positions

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 sea ports). 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." Under Netanyahu, Likud has and is likely to maintain a comparatively right-wing conservative economic stance, although it might be considered centrist or even progressive from a world view. However, the party's economic policies vary widely among members, with some Likud MKs supporting leftist economic positions that are more in line with Israeli preferences.^[8]

Palestinian policy

Likud has in the past espoused hawkish policies towards the Palestinians, including opposition to Palestinian statehood and support of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. However, it has also been the party which 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. Later, as Prime Minister, Netanyahu restated Likud's position of opposing Palestinian statehood, which after the Oslo Accords was largely accepted by the opposition Labor Party, even though the shape of any such state was not clear.

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 "Greater Israel" 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 Israeli unilateral disengagement plan, withdrawing from the Gaza Strip and demolishing the Israeli settlements there, 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.

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.

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, 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.

Likud charter

• The 1999 Likud charter emphasized the right of settlement in "Judea, Samaria and Azzah" (also known as the "West Bank" and Gaza),"^[9] and as such, brings it into direct conflict with Palestinian claims on the same territory. Similarly, their claims of the Jordan River as the permanent eastern border to Israel and Jerusalem as "the eternal, united capital of the State of Israel and only of Israel," do the same.

• The 'Peace & Security' chapter of the 1999 Likud Party platform “flatly rejects the establishment of a Palestinian Arab state west of the Jordan river.” The chapter continued: “The Palestinians can run their lives freely in the framework of self-rule, but not as an independent and sovereign state.”^[9]

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.^[10] "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."^[11]

In June 2009 Netanyahu outlined his conditions for the eventual creation of a Palestinian state, including the state being demilitarized, without an army or control of their airspace.^[12]

Anti-Arab statements by Likud members

• In February 2004 Likud member and deputy defense minister Ze'ev Boim, speaking at a memorial ceremony, said "What is it about Islam as a whole and the Palestinians in particular? Is it some form of cultural deprivation? Is it some genetic defect? There is something that defies explanation in this continued murderousness." In a comment, Likud member of Knesset Yehiel Hazan supported Boim's statements: "I think this it is in their blood. It is something genetic. I have not researched this, but there is no other way to explain this,". He added "Don't believe an Arab, even one who has been in the grave for 40 years."^[13]

• In remarks at the Knesset in December 2004, Likud member Yehiel Hazan repeatedly likened Palestinians to "worms" and stated that the Palestinians are a nation of "murderers" and "terrorists."^[14]

• In a New Yorker magazine interview Moshe Feiglin, leader of the right wing Manhigut Yehudit faction of the Likud Central Committee, is quoted saying “You can’t teach a monkey to speak and you can’t teach an Arab to be democratic. You’re dealing with a culture of thieves and robbers. Muhammad, their prophet, was a robber and a killer and a liar. The Arab destroys everything he touches.”^[15]

Culture

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. 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 7 ("Channel 7"). Arutz 7 was popular with the Jewish settler movement and often criticised the government from a right-wing perspective.

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 Menahem 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.

History

Likud has its roots in Irgun, a militant group operating in British Mandate Palestine. The military wing of Irgun was co-opted into the Israeli Defence Forces at Israel's foundation, while the political wing became Herut and eventually Likud. Over the years it has undergone an evolution into a more pragmatic party.^[1][2] Likud leader Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced his party is committed to a "full peace" with the Palestinians, though he is still under international pressure to explicitly endorse a Palestinian state. ^[16]

Leaders

• Menachem Begin, 1973–1983
• Yitzhak Shamir, 1983–1993
• Binjamin Netanyahu, 1993–1999
• Ariel Sharon, 1999–2005
• Binjamin Netanyahu, since 2005

Current MKs

Likud currently has 27 Knesset members. They are listed below in the order that they appeared on the party's list for the 2009 elections.

Benjamin Netanyahu Gideon Sa'ar Gilad Erdan Reuven Rivlin Benny Begin Moshe Kahlon Silvan Shalom Moshe Ya'alon Yuval Steinitz

Lea Nass Yisrael Katz Yuli-Yoel Edelstein Limor Livnat Haim Katz Yossi Peled Michael Eitan Dan Meridor Tzipi Hotovely

Gila Gamliel Ze'ev Elkin Yariv Levin Zion Pinyan Ayoob Kara Danny Danon Karmel Shama Ofir Akunis Miri Regev

Other prominent members

Active:

• Moshe Feiglin (leader of the Manhigut Yehudit faction)
• David Levy

Past figures (deceased, retired or left Likud):

• Menachem Begin (1913 - 1992), former Prime Minister
• Geula Cohen
• Moshe Katsav, former President of Israel
• Michael Kleiner
• Uzi Landau
• Moshe Arens
• Tzipi Livni, former Foreign Minister and current Leader of the Opposition
• Shaul Mofaz, former Chief of the Staff of the Israeli Defence Forces and Minister of Transportation
• Ehud Olmert, former Mayor of Jerusalem and former Prime Minister of Israel
• Moshe Shamir (1921 - 2004), author and playwright
• Yitzhak Shamir, former Prime Minister of Israel
• Natan Sharansky, former Russian dissident
• Ariel Sharon, former Prime Minister and Likud party leader (September 1999 - November 2005) now in a coma.
• Ezer Weizman (1924-2005), former President of Israel

See also

• List of Likud Knesset Members

References

External links

• Official website (Hebrew)
• Official Facebook page
• Likud Members News website (Hebrew)
• Likud Nederland (Dutch) (English)
• Likud Knesset website
• Likud - fact file at Ynetnews

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