List of political parties in Israel

Israel's political system is based on proportional representation which allows for a multi-party system with numerous parties. There are currently five parties with more than ten seats in the 120-seat Knesset, and a single party usually has no chance of gaining power by itself (only once has a party held an absolute majority in the Knesset), forcing the parties to cooperate and form coalition governments. This article lists the political parties in Israel.

Current parties

Parties with Knesset representation

The following parties are represented following the 2009 elections:

Other parties

The following parties are without Knesset representation, but have been represented in municipal governments:

• Ahrayut
• Ale Yarok
• Brit Olam
• Gil
• Green Movement-Meimad
• HaYisraelim
• Holocaust Survivors and Ale Yarok Alumni
• Koah HaKesef
• Koah LeHashpi'a
• Lazuz
• Leader
• Lehem
• Lev LaOlim
• Man's Rights in the Family Party
• Or
• Organization for Democratic Action
• The Greens
• Tzabar
• Tzomet
• Yisrael Hazaka
• Yisrael HaMithadeshet

Former parties

Parties with Knesset seats

Parties without Knesset seats

• Hatzohar - the original Revisionist Zionist party, disbanded after failing to cross the electoral threshold in the 1949 elections.
• Popular Arab Bloc - Arab party that ran in the 1949 elections.
• Tafnit - ran in the 2006 elections.
• Women's Party - ran in the 1977 elections.
• Yamin Israel - broke away from Moledet, another right-wing party, prior to 1996 elections, but failed to cross the electoral threshold.

Name changes

The following parties changed their names

• Banai became Tehiya-Bnai then Tehiya
• Emunim became Tkuma
• Equality in Israel-Panthers became the Unity Party
• Flatto-Sharon became Development and Peace
• Hitkhabrut became the Renewed Religious National Zionist Party, then Ahi
• Israel in the Centre became the Centre Party
• Meretz became Yachad then Meretz-Yachad
• Movement for Change and Initiative became Shinui
• Mizrachi-Hapoel HaMizrachi became the National Religious Front, then Mafdal (National Religious Party), then Jewish Home
• National Responsibility became Kadima
• National Unity - National Progressive Alliance became Progressive National Alliance
• Parliamentary Group of Bronfman and Tsinker became Makhar, then the Democratic Choice
• Party for the Advancement of the Zionist Idea became the New Liberal Party
• Rafi – National List became Ometz
• Rakah became Maki
• Secular Faction became Hetz
• Social-Democratic Faction became the Independent Socialist Faction
• Shinui - Centre Party became Shinui - the Secular Movement, then Shinui - Party for the Secular and the Middle Class, but is generally known as Shinui

Zionist youth movements

• Betar (associated with Likud)
• Bnei Akiva (Sons of Akiva, associated with Mafdal (National Religious Party))
• Habonim Dror (The Builders - Freedom, socialist Zionist youth movement)
• Hashomer Hatzair (The Young Guard, socialist Zionist youth movement associated with Mapam and Meretz-Yachad)
• Magshimey Herut (associated with Herut)
• HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed (The Learning and Working Youth, socialist Zionist youth movement)
• Noar Avoda (Labour Youth, associated with Labour)
• Noar Moledet (Moledet Youth, associated with Moledet)
• Noar Meretz (Meretz Youth, associated with Meretz-Yachad)

See also

• Politics of Israel
• List of political parties by country
• Liberalism in Israel
• Labour Zionism
• Revisionist Zionism

External links

• The Israel Project: Political Parties in Israel
• Party registrar, list of registered political parties Ministry of Justice
• Parties participating in the 2006 elections Knesset website (English)
• All parliamentary groups Knesset website (English)