Likud

Likud is a major right-wing political party in Israel. Its official name is the Likud – National Liberal Movement. The word "Likud" means "Consolidation." This name describes how the party was formed by joining several smaller groups together. These groups included the Liberal Party, the Free Centre, the National List, and the Movement for Greater Israel. The largest group in this alliance was Herut. Herut had been a major right-wing force since 1948.

The party was officially established on September 13, 1973. It began as an alliance of several right-wing parties before a legislative election. For many years, these member parties functioned as a coalition. They worked under the leadership of Herut. In 1988, the member parties finally merged into a single party under the Likud name. Members of the party are known as Likudniks. The party uses a specific election symbol to represent its origins as an electoral list of these combined groups.

Likud changed the course of Israeli history through its election results. In the 1977 election, the party achieved a landslide victory. It won 43 seats in the Knesset, which is the Israeli parliament. This was a major turning point for the country. It was the first time a right-wing party received the most votes in Israel. It also marked the first time the left-wing parties lost power. Menachem Begin, a founder of the party, became the leader.

Leadership within Likud has often involved different political views. The party is a loose alliance of politicians with different policy preferences. For example, the 1981 election showed a divide between the populist wing and the Liberal wing. The populist wing was led by David Levy. The Liberal wing represented the secular bourgeoisie. After Menachem Begin announced his intention to resign in 1983, Yitzhak Shamir became the leader. Shamir was a hard-liner who opposed certain peace agreements.

The party has experienced significant splits and changes in power. In 1996, Benjamin Netanyahu won the vote for prime minister. He was tasked with forming a government after the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin. Later, Ariel Sharon became the leader. In 2005, a major split occurred during Sharon's leadership. Sharon left Likud to form a new centrist party called Kadima. This was due to his policy of unilateral disengagement from Gaza and parts of the West Bank.

These internal conflicts had a direct impact on the party's strength. Following Sharon's departure, Likud slumped to fourth place in the 2006 elections. The party lost 28 seats in the Knesset during that time. However, the party regained strength under Benjamin Netanyahu. In the 2009 elections, Likud formed a coalition with the parties Yisrael Beiteinu and Shas. This allowed the party to take control of the government again. Netanyahu served as prime minister from that time until 2021.

Recent years have seen many shifts in the Israeli government. Likud was the leading vote-getter in many elections until 2019. In 2021, an unprecedented coalition led by Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett removed Netanyahu from power. However, Netanyahu returned to the office of prime minister after winning the 2022 election. The party remains a central force in the country's political system. Its history shows how alliances and internal disagreements shape the leadership of a nation.