[[Israel]] | [[Menachem Begin]] # Israel's Dominant Right-Wing Party Likud is Israel's main right-wing party, in power for most of the past 45 years. It represents nationalist, free-market ideology opposing Palestinian statehood and territorial concessions. ## Origins: Revisionist Zionism Likud was founded in 1973 by merging several right-wing parties, primarily **Herut** (Freedom), which came from the **Revisionist Zionist** movement. **Ze'ev Jabotinsky** created Revisionist Zionism in the 1920s-30s as a militant alternative to mainstream Labor Zionism. Key principles: - **Greater Israel**: Jewish state should encompass all of historic Palestine including West Bank and originally Transjordan (now Jordan) - **Iron Wall Doctrine**: Arabs would never accept Jewish state voluntarily, so Israel must maintain overwhelming military superiority until Arabs accept reality - **Militant Nationalism**: Embraced force and rejected socialist economics of Labor Zionism - **Maximalist Territorial Claims**: Opposed partition or territorial compromise **Irgun and Lehi**: The militant wings—Irgun (led by future PM Menachem Begin) and Lehi (Stern Gang)—conducted terrorism against British and Arabs during the Mandate period, including the King David Hotel bombing (1946) and Deir Yassin massacre (1948). Mainstream Labor Zionists viewed Revisionists as fascistic extremists. Ben-Gurion called Begin a fascist and refused to work with him. ## Begin's Breakthrough (1977) For Israel's first 29 years, Labor dominated. Likud (and predecessor Herut) was permanent opposition. **1977 Election**: Menachem Begin won, ending Labor hegemony. This "upheaval" (mahapach) represented: - Mizrahi Jews (Middle Eastern/North African origin) rejecting Ashkenazi Labor establishment - Economic frustration with socialist policies - Security concerns after 1973 Yom Kippur War - Generational change **Begin's Contradictions**: Despite militant ideology, Begin signed peace with Egypt (1979), returning Sinai Peninsula. But he also began West Bank settlement expansion aggressively and invaded Lebanon (1982). ## Core Ideology **Territorial Maximalism**: Likud platform traditionally claimed all of "Greater Israel" including West Bank and Gaza as Israeli territory. The party has never officially accepted Palestinian statehood. **Security Hawkishness**: Emphasizes military strength, rejects territorial concessions as appeasement, views Arab/Palestinian intentions as fundamentally hostile. **Economic Liberalism**: Shifted from Begin's populism to Netanyahu's neoliberalism—privatization, deregulation, reduced social spending, free markets. **Jewish Identity**: Emphasizes Jewish character of state over democratic equality. More sympathetic to religious parties than secular Labor was. **Settlements**: Views settlement as ideological imperative and security necessity, not obstacle to peace. ## Evolution Under Netanyahu Netanyahu has led Likud since 2005 (with brief interruption), transforming it: **Pragmatic Rhetoric, Maximalist Practice**: Netanyahu rhetorically accepts "two-state solution" when pressured but pursues policies that make it impossible. This rhetorical flexibility with practical intransigence defines his approach. **American-Style Politics**: Imported American Republican tactics—media wars, delegitimization of opponents, culture war rhetoric, populist appeals against elites. **Coalition Dependency**: Likud hasn't won outright majority, requiring coalitions with religious parties, right-wing nationalists, and recently far-right extremists. **Personalization**: Likud has become Netanyahu's vehicle. Internal rivals are marginalized. The party is "Bibi's Likud." **Rightward Drift**: As Netanyahu allied with farther-right parties, Likud absorbed more extreme positions. Policies once considered fringe (annexation talk, judicial attacks) became mainstream. ## Likud's Electoral Base **Mizrahi Jews**: Middle Eastern/North African Jews remain core supporters, seeing Likud as their party versus Ashkenazi Labor establishment. **Working Class**: Despite neoliberal economics, Likud retains working-class support through cultural nationalism and security rhetoric. **Settlers**: West Bank settlers overwhelmingly support Likud or parties to its right. **Russian Immigrants**: Many former Soviet Jews support Likud's hardline security stance and opposition to territorial concessions. **Traditional/Religious**: While ultra-Orthodox have own parties, traditional religious Mizrahi Jews support Likud. **Peripheral Development Towns**: Communities in southern and northern Israel where economic opportunities are limited but security concerns are high. ## Relationship with Far-Right Likud historically distinguished itself from extreme right (Kahanists, Religious Zionism). But this boundary has collapsed: **2022 Coalition**: Netanyahu formed government with **Religious Zionism** party including figures like Itamar Ben-Gvir (convicted of incitement and supporting terrorism, follower of racist Meir Kahane) and Bezalel Smotrich (advocate of full West Bank annexation). **Normalization**: By bringing extremists into government and giving them ministerial positions, Netanyahu legitimized positions Likud previously rejected. **Political Necessity**: Netanyahu needed far-right to form majority, especially after corruption indictment alienated centrist partners. ## Internal Tensions **Moderates vs. Hardliners**: Some Likud members favor pragmatic security policies, others ideological maximalism. Netanyahu manages this through ambiguity. **Economic vs. Security Focus**: Business-oriented members want economic liberalization and regional integration. Security hawks prioritize conflict over growth. **Bibi vs. Post-Bibi**: Younger Likud politicians wait for Netanyahu to leave but can't challenge him directly. This creates succession paralysis. **Democratic Norms**: Some Likud members uncomfortable with judicial overhaul and democratic erosion, but party discipline and fear of political wilderness keep them aligned. ## Geopolitical Significance **Regional Policy**: Likud has pursued normalization with Sunni Arab states (Abraham Accords) while maintaining confrontation with Iran and rejection of Palestinian statehood. This represents bet that Palestinian issue can be sidelined. **U.S. Relations**: Likud closely aligned with American Republicans. This partisan alignment threatens traditional bipartisan U.S. support for Israel as Democrats grow more critical. **Settlement Project**: Likud governments have presided over settlement expansion that creates facts on the ground making two-state solution increasingly impossible. **Occupation Management**: Rather than resolving Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Likud pursues indefinite occupation with Palestinian self-administration in disconnected areas under Israeli security control—"shrinking the conflict" not solving it. ## Assessment Likud transformed from militant opposition to dominant governing party, reshaping Israel from social democratic state toward nationalist, economically liberal, territorially expansionist direction. The party has buried the two-state solution through settlement expansion while avoiding annexation's full democratic implications (granting Palestinians citizenship). This creates indefinite limbo—Israeli control without Palestinian rights. Under Netanyahu, Likud personalized around one leader, allied with extremists, and attacked democratic institutions when they constrained power. Whether this represents temporary aberration or fundamental transformation depends on post-Netanyahu future. The party embodies core tension in Israeli politics—how to maintain Jewish majority state while controlling millions of Palestinians who lack political rights. Likud's answer has been avoiding the question through indefinite occupation, settlement expansion, and hope that regional dynamics make Palestinian statehood unnecessary. [Claude is AI and can make mistakes. Please double-check responses.](https://support.anthropic.com/en/articles/8525154-claude-is-providing-incorrect-or-misleading-responses-what-s-going-on) Sonnet 4.5