Hatnua

Hatnua
Name	Hatnua
Founded	2012
Dissolved	2015
Founder	Tzipi Livni
Headquarters	Tel Aviv
Ideology	Centrist, Zionist, Social liberalism
Position	Centre
Country	Israel

Hatnua was an Israeli political party founded in 2012 and dissolved in 2015. It was established by Tzipi Livni after her departure from Kadima and sought to position itself in the political center between Likud, Labor Party, and Yesh Atid. The party emphasized diplomatic engagement with the Palestinian Authority, judicial reform involving the Supreme Court of Israel, and social welfare measures interacting with institutions such as the Histadrut. Hatnua played a role in the formation of the 2013 governing coalition and in subsequent negotiations around the Benjamin Netanyahu administrations.

History

Hatnua emerged during a period of realignment following the 2012 leadership contest in Kadima where Tzipi Livni lost to Shaul Mofaz. The split occurred in a context shaped by events such as the 2011 Israeli social justice protests, the aftermath of the Operation Pillar of Defense, and shifting voter preferences visible in the 2013 Knesset elections. Training its campaign apparatus in urban centers like Tel Aviv-Yafo, Jerusalem, and Haifa, the party attracted figures from Meretz, Independence, and civil society activists associated with Peace Now and Givat Haviva. After securing seats in the 19th Knesset, the party entered coalition talks that led to a short-lived partnership with Yesh Atid and The Jewish Home, though Hatnua’s independent parliamentary presence diminished by the time of the 2015 elections.

Ideology and platform

Hatnua articulated a centrist Zionist platform combining elements drawn from liberalism, Social democracy, and pragmatic security policy influenced by veterans of the Israel Defense Forces. The platform prioritized negotiation toward a two-state solution referencing frameworks like the Oslo Accords and principles discussed at conferences such as the Annapolis Conference. On civil matters, Hatnua advocated reforms touching the powers of the Supreme Court of Israel and campaigned for anti-corruption measures in response to scandals involving figures linked to Likud and Kadima. Economic proposals referenced regulators and institutions such as the Bank of Israel and sought to address cost-of-living issues highlighted by the 2011 social justice protests. Hatnua also supported rights for minorities and migrants, aligning with NGOs including B'Tselem and legal campaigns heard in cases before the Israeli High Court of Justice.

Leadership and organization

The party was led by Tzipi Livni, a former minister who had served as Minister of Justice and Foreign Minister. Associates included politicians from diverse backgrounds such as former diplomats, academics from institutions like the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and legislators with prior ties to Kadima and Labor Party. The organizational structure featured a central committee modeled on precedents from parties like Likud, with a political bureau engaging with stakeholders including the Jewish Agency for Israel, think tanks such as the Israel Democracy Institute, and grassroots collectives formed during the 2011 Israeli social justice protests. Campaign strategy used media outlets like Haaretz, The Jerusalem Post, and Yedioth Ahronoth to articulate policy and counter narratives from rivals like Benjamin Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman.

Electoral performance

In the 2013 Knesset elections Hatnua ran independently and won representation in the 19th Knesset, securing enough seats to be a junior partner in coalition discussions led by Benjamin Netanyahu. The party’s electoral base drew support from urban liberal constituencies in Tel Aviv-Yafo, segments of the Arab citizens of Israel, and Russian-speaking immigrants who had split from parties such as Yisrael Beiteinu. By the 2015 elections the party failed to surpass the electoral threshold, influenced by the rise of Yesh Atid, the consolidation of the center-right under Likud, and shifts in voter priorities after events like Operation Protective Edge. The decline mirrored patterns seen in the fates of other centrist lists such as Kadima and subsequent centrist initiatives.

Political alliances and coalitions

Hatnua participated in coalition negotiations with Yesh Atid, The Jewish Home, and elements of Labor Party in efforts to construct alternatives to the Netanyahu bloc. The party’s diplomatic emphasis led to coordination with groups including Meretz on peace-related votes and occasional cooperation with Arab parties on civil rights legislation. Hatnua’s involvement in the 2013 governing arrangements reflected precedent from coalition agreements seen in earlier administrations such as that of Ehud Olmert and invoked comparisons to centrist alliances formed by Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin in their respective eras.

Controversies and criticism

Hatnua faced criticism from both right-wing and left-wing actors. Critics on the right, including members of Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu, accused the party of naivety regarding security threats and of aligning with positions advanced by the Palestinian Authority. On the left, activists from Peace Now and Meretz sometimes criticized Hatnua for pragmatic compromises perceived during coalition bargaining, particularly over settlement policy and judicial appointments involving the Supreme Court of Israel. Internally, disputes over candidate lists and strategic direction echoed controversies that had affected Kadima and contributed to defections to parties like Labor and independent MKs. Public debate around the party’s stance on negotiation frameworks intensified after incidents such as the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict, leading to scrutiny from commentators at outlets including Haaretz and The Times of Israel.

Category:Defunct political parties in Israel