Liberalism in Israel - Definition and Overview

Many liberal political parties in Israel's history can claim substantial popular support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament (the Knesset).

Since Israel's founding, liberals have been active in politics. Note that the label "liberal" was also used by a conservative party that derived from the liberal current. At the moment Shinui, meaning "change" in Hebrew, represents liberalism by being a strongly anti-clerical, pro-free market liberal party. Shinui is a member of Liberal International.

Timeline

From General Zionists to Liberal Party

• 1922: Centrists in the Zionist Organisation form the Organization of General Zionists (Zionim Klaliim).
• 1931–1945 General Zionists split into "Faction A" and "Faction B" over liberal issues such as economics, social issues and orientation to the Histadrut. Factions A and B merge in 1945.
• 1961: The party merges with the Progressive Party to become the Liberal Party (Miflaga Liberalit).
• 1965: The ML splits up, the conservatives continue as the Liberal Party which joins Herut to form Gahal (eventually becoming Likud), the liberal faction forms the Independent Liberal Party.
• 1988: The ML and Herut factions formally merge transforming Likud from an electoral coalition to a unitary politcal party .

From Progressive Party to Independent Liberal Party

• 1949: Liberals form the Progressive Party (Miflaga Progresivit)
• 1961: The party merges with the General Zionists ]] to become the Liberal Party (Miflaga Liberalit)
• 1965: The ML splits up, the conservatives continue as the Liberal Party, the liberals forming the Independent Liberal Party (Mifleget Liberalim Atzmaiim)
• 1980s: The MLA disappears.

From Shinui to Shinui

• 1973: Amnon Rubinstein forms the protest party Shinui (שינוי)
• 1976: Shinui merges with the newly founded Democratic Party (Miflaga Demokratit) to become the Democratic Movement for Change (Tenua Demokratit le-Shinui, Dash)
• 1978: Dash splits up into the Democratic Movement (Tenua Demokratit), that is unsuccesful, and the Movement for Change and Initiative (Tenua le-Shinui ve Yozma)
• 1981: The party renames itself "Shinui," and in 1988 becomes the "Shinui-Center Party" (Shinui-Mifleget ha-Merkaz)
• 1992: The party merges with Mapam and Ratz to form Meretz, a left wing party with social democrat tendencies.
• 1998: Avraham Poraz splits with Meretz and recreates Shinui as an independent party.
• 1999: Joseph (Tommy) Lapid is invited by Poraz to head Shinui.

Liberal leaders

• Amnon Rubinstein

See also

• History of Israel
• Politics of Israel
• List of political parties in Israel
• List of Knesset members
• List of Likud Knesset Members
• Prime Minister of Israel
• Basic Laws of Israel

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