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| New Hope (Hosen LeYisrael) | |
|---|---|
| Name | New Hope (Hosen LeYisrael) |
| Native name | חוסן לישראל |
| Leader | Gideon Sa'ar |
| Founded | 2020 |
| Predecessor | Likud |
| Ideology | Conservatism; Zionism |
| Position | Centre-right |
| Seats1 title | Knesset |
| Country | Israel |
New Hope (Hosen LeYisrael) is an Israeli political party founded in 2020 by Gideon Sa'ar after his departure from Likud, positioning itself as a centre-right Zionist alternative. The party emerged ahead of the 2021 legislative election, drawing figures from Likud, Yamina, and the broader Israeli right, while engaging with institutions such as the Knesset, the Supreme Court, and the Office of the Prime Minister. New Hope has engaged with international actors including the United States, the European Union, and regional states involved in the Abraham Accords.
New Hope was established in the aftermath of political realignment that followed the 2019–2020 Israeli legislative deadlock, when figures such as Gideon Sa'ar split from Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud to create a new vehicle ahead of the 2021 election. During its formation Sa'ar courted alliances with politicians formerly associated with Yamina, Blue and White, and independents from the Israeli Labor Party and Yisrael Beiteinu, reflecting the fragmentation of the center-right. The party competed in the 2021 Knesset election and participated in coalition talks involving Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid, and representatives of the Arab Joint List. New Hope's early parliamentary activity intersected with debates over the role of the Attorney General of Israel, the Shin Bet, and the Israel Defense Forces regarding service and civil oversight. The party's history includes interactions with the presidency of Reuven Rivlin and later Isaac Herzog during government formation efforts.
New Hope articulates a platform combining conservative Zionism with liberal-democratic principles, seeking to differentiate itself from Likud by emphasizing institutional restraint and judicial balance. Its platform references the security doctrines associated with figures like Ariel Sharon and Ehud Barak while invoking economic positions similar to Benjamin Netanyahu's market-oriented policies. On territorial issues the party has debated approaches akin to those discussed in the contexts of the Oslo Accords, the Gaza disengagement, and the broader Israeli–Palestinian peace process, advocating pragmatic positions that reference models from the Abraham Accords. New Hope's stated priorities include reform of the judicial system in ways that reference constitutional debates seen in countries such as the United States and United Kingdom, and administrative reforms related to the functioning of the Knesset and the Israel Police.
Led by Gideon Sa'ar, New Hope's leadership includes members who formerly held roles in ministries and municipal offices comparable to those of ministers who worked under Benjamin Netanyahu or in regional administrations like the Jerusalem Municipality and the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality. The party's organizational structure mirrors parliamentary party models exemplified by Likud and Yesh Atid, with a central committee, parliamentary faction, and youth wings analogous to those of HaLikud HaYisraeli. Leadership debates have involved figures who previously served in institutions such as the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Justice. New Hope has engaged with civil society organizations that operate alongside entities like The Israel Democracy Institute and nongovernmental networks active in Israeli politics.
In the 2021 Knesset election New Hope won seats sufficient to participate in coalition negotiations with Yamina, Yesh Atid, and others, influencing the composition of the Bennett-Lapid government. The party's electoral base drew support from constituencies traditionally aligned with Likud and moderate settlers in regions like the West Bank and urban suburbs including Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut and Raanana. Subsequent local and national electoral cycles saw New Hope compete in lists alongside parties such as Yisrael Beiteinu, and its performance has been analyzed in the context of voter shifts toward parties like Religious Zionism and Meretz. Polling by organizations that also survey support for Shas, United Torah Judaism, and Ra'am has tracked New Hope's fluctuating electoral fortunes.
New Hope's legislative activity in the Knesset has focused on judicial reform proposals debated alongside bills proposed by Yamina and counterproposals from Yesh Atid and Labor. The party advanced policy initiatives concerning national service and civil integration that referenced frameworks used by the Israel Defense Forces and the National Insurance Institute of Israel. On economic matters New Hope supported deregulatory measures and tax policies resembling those previously advocated by Benjamin Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman. Security legislation supported by the party engaged with institutions like the Israel Security Agency and debated oversight mechanisms similar to those in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. New Hope also sponsored bills affecting municipal governance drawing on precedents from the Local Authorities Law (Israel) and administrative reforms influenced by international comparative law.
Public reception of New Hope has been mixed, with endorsements from some media outlets that previously supported Haaretz-aligned commentators and criticism from others aligned with Israel Hayom and Maariv. Controversies have centered on Sa'ar's split from Likud and allegations by opponents regarding political opportunism similar to disputes that have surrounded splinter movements historically associated with figures like Moshe Kahlon. Debates over New Hope's stance on judicial reform sparked public demonstrations reminiscent of nationwide protests seen during contentious legislative campaigns in Israel's recent history. The party's interactions with religious parties such as Shas and United Torah Judaism generated disputes over coalition priorities and social policy, and its positions on settlement policy drew responses from advocacy groups that also engaged with the Peace Now movement and settler councils.