Revolution: Likud and Revisionist Zionism
Ideological competition
Non-religious ‘right’ in Israel
Chief ideological competitor to socialist Labor Zionism.
Developed by Ze’ev Jabotinsky advocating a ‘revision’ of “practical Zionism” focusing
not on independent individuals settling Eretz Yisrael, but establishment of a Jewish
State.
Vision of political Zionism that Jabotinsky regarded followed legacy of Theodor Herzl.
World Executive Herut-Hatzohar (Revisionist Zionists) 1925
Beginnings
Under Jabotinsky, Revisionist Zionism focused on getting British aid and power for
settlement. Later, Revisionist groups conducted campaigns of violence during British
Mandate with intent to force the British out and establish a Jewish state.
Regardless of method, Revisionist Zionism is distinguished by its aim of territorial
maximalism
So, political objective was to establish and maintain the territorial integrity of the
historical land of Israel on both sides of the River Jordan
Opposed to partition
Ideological Opposition and Ideological Abandonment
Jabotinsky and Begin (successor) opposed the 1947 UN partition plan
Revisionists viewed subsequent partition of Palestine following 1949 Armistice
Agreements to be illegitimate.
Revisionist Party in Israel, known as Herut, remained in opposition until 1966.
Ideological abandonment of maxim territory began after Herut merged with the
Liberal Party in 1965 and by the 1970s the legitimacy of Jordan no longer questioned.
By 1994, complete and practical abandonment of the ‘both banks’ principle when
Likud MPs voted in favor of peace treaty with Jordan.
Credibility
June 1967, Revisionists as part of the Gahal faction (right-wing political alliance)
joined a national unity government of PM Eshkol.
The Six-Day War stopped Labor’s (DBG) efforts to undercut Revisionism.
Inclusion in government legitimized the views of Herut and also as “the opposition”
Begin ‘observes’ how Cabinet government works
Additionally, Labor felt it could no longer monopolize power.
In Government and Out
Gave needed ministerial experience to Begin and other Herut members.
Unity government existed until August 1970 when Begin and Gahal left government
over disagreements on Rogers Plan, UN242 ‘peace for withdrawal’.
Resignation reasons are disputed.
Begin himself offers best explanation and it is linked again to Ideology in Knesset
speech on 5 August, 1970. ‘Withdrawal...by Israel...means [Judea and Samaria]”
William B. Quandt, Peace Process, American Diplomacy and the Arab-Israeli Conflict since 1967, pp.194ff.
Wilderness, Again: 1970-1977
Election 1973 (postponed due to Yom Kippur War).
In 1973 formation of Likud (Herut, Liberal Party, Free Centre, the National List and
the Movement for Greater Israel).
Consolidation of the Israeli right.
Performed well in the elections reducing Alignment to 12 seat margin of victory.
Support amongst working-class (Sephardim) and religious form bloc of votes for
Likud that shows success in May 1977.
From Many to ONE
In 1988, all parties merged as one party, Likud.
Still, Likud remains a loose alliance of politicians committed to different and often
opposing policy preferences and ideologies.
1999 Benny Begin re-forming Herut
Post 2010 with Lieberman (Yisrael Beitinu)
Post 2012 with Jewish Home and Hatnuah
After Begin…
Yitzhak Shamir, hard-liner and ideologically committed to both settlements in West
Bank and Gaza Strip that he encouraged also fostered and endorsed the idea of aliyah.
Mass immigration of Jews to Israel from Ethiopia and former Soviet Union
Lost 1984 election to Alignment, unable to form govt., Likud and Alignment formed
national unity government with S.Peres and Shamir switching roles of PM and FM.
Likud remained in power from 1990 until defeat in 1992.
Revisionism OLD vs. LITE
Revisionist Zionism (RZ) once distinguished by its aim of territorial maximalism saw
that tested both domestic unrest (Intifada) and the historic Oslo Accords.
Abandoned by agreement to Oslo and commitment to road map in 2002
Abandoned by unilateral disengagement of Gaza in 2005
The political objective was to establish and maintain the territorial integrity of the
historical land of Israel on both sides of the River Jordan.
Abandoned by historic peace treaty with Jordan in 1994
RZ nowadays, outside of the most hardline parties within Likud, is political objectives
as seen in 1967 green lines and over Gaza.
Compromised Ideals in practice
Constituency has changed since opposition days (pre-1977) and in power on and off
since 1977-1984, 1986-1992, 1996-1999, 2009-present.
Populist economic programs/free enterprise
Religion and state (moderate)/enjoys support of Haredim.
Nationalistic, lower-income. Small towns and urban neighborhoods.
Secular party though enjoys the support of religious parties.
Promotes Jewish culture, tradition and religious jews.
The Rise of Bibi
Elected as MK in 1983.
Leads Likud to victory in 1996; opposed to Oslo Accords
1998 Wye River Agreement causes Likud defections
Netanyahu’s coalition collapsed in 1999 and subsequent election of Labor and Ehud
Barak
In 2001, it was Ariel Sharon, NOT Netanyahu that lead Likud to victory.
In 2006, Netanyahu became chairman of Likud and in 2009 Prime Minister again.
@therealNetanyahu
He has proven to be less hard-line in practice than how he is rhetorically.
Settlements
Negotiations
Netanyahu switches between moderates and hardliners
Dynamics of post-Oslo and US-Israel relationship often drives him to central positions
and policy implementation despite hawkish stance in comparison to Labor and
recently Zionist Union.
Future of Likud
Will remain one of the primary electoral parties in Israel regardless of actual election
success or defeat in 2 or 4 years.
Young Likud members
Diversity of members (central voting) and MK’s
Gila Gamliel (43) Minister for Social Equality (Yemenite-Libyian)
Tzipi Hotovely (38) deputy Foreign Minister. She is youngest Likud MP.
Orthodox
Anat Berko (57) Lt.Col.rt. (immigrated from Iraq)