New Hope (Israel)
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| New Hope (Israel) | |
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| Name | New Hope |
| Native name | תקווה חדשה |
| Leader | Gideon Sa'ar |
| Founded | 16 December 2020 |
| Split from | Likud |
| Position | Centre-right |
| Seats1 title | Knesset |
| Country | Israel |
New Hope (Israel) is an Israeli political party formed in December 2020 by Gideon Sa'ar after his split from Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud. Presenting itself as a center-right alternative, the party positioned itself on issues including judicial reform, security policy toward Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and domestic governance reform. New Hope entered the 2021 and 2022 electoral cycles as part of coalition negotiations involving parties such as Yamina, Blue and White, and Yesh Atid, while engaging with institutions like the Knesset and interacting with figures including Naftali Bennett and Benjamin Netanyahu.
History
New Hope was launched by Gideon Sa'ar after his resignation from ministerial roles under the Netanyahu administration and following disputes within Likud. The formation occurred against the backdrop of multiple elections in Israel (2019–2021 Israeli legislative election cycle) and rival candidacies from Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid. Early organizational moves included registering with the Central Elections Committee and recruiting candidates from parties such as Israel Resilience Party and former Kulanu members. New Hope campaigned on replacing Netanyahu, cooperating with centrist and right-leaning blocs, and opposing proposals by Netanyahu allies concerning the judiciary.
During the 2021 coalition talks after the March elections, New Hope negotiated with blocs led by Yamina and Yesh Atid, eventually supporting the formation of the government of change that installed Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid in rotation leadership. In subsequent political realignments ahead of the 2022 elections, New Hope sought electoral agreements and ran campaigns emphasizing security issues related to Gaza Strip, West Bank, and northern border tensions with Lebanon. The party's trajectory has been shaped by endorsements, defections, and alliances with figures such as Ayelet Shaked and interactions with institutions like the Court of Justice of the European Union in international legal contexts.
Ideology and Platform
New Hope adopted a platform described as center-right, combining conservative stances on national security with liberal positions on market regulation and civil liberties. It articulated policy proposals regarding the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, advocating pragmatic arrangements for the West Bank while retaining sovereignty claims over strategic areas. On defense, the party emphasized strengthening the Israel Defense Forces and intelligence coordination with allies such as the United States and collaboration with NATO partners. In economic policy, New Hope advocated tax reforms and incentives similar to proposals advanced by Kulanu and proponents of fiscal liberalization. The party also addressed judicial balance, proposing reforms distinct from those proposed by Religious Zionism that would limit judicial oversight.
Leadership and Organization
The party's founder and primary leader is Gideon Sa'ar, formerly a member of Likud who served as Minister of Education and as Minister of the Interior. The organizational structure included a central committee and candidate lists vetted by a party primary process influenced by advisers with experience in campaigns for Likud and Kadima. New Hope attracted politicians and civic actors from diverse backgrounds, including former members of Yisrael Beiteinu and civic movements associated with the protests against the judicial overhaul. The party maintained liaison teams for coalition negotiations with parties such as Labor and Meretz, while preserving outreach to right-leaning constituencies.
Electoral Performance
In the 2021 legislative election, New Hope won seats in the Knesset sufficient to be a coalition partner in the government formed in June 2021. The party's seat count and vote share fluctuated in subsequent polls and the 2022 election cycle, where alliances, primaries, and candidate withdrawals affected its representation. Electoral strategy included targeting suburban constituencies and voters disillusioned with Likud leadership, leveraging Sa'ar's profile and campaign messaging that referenced past administrations such as the Netanyahu era when criticizing alleged corruption and governance failures.
Policies and Political Positions
New Hope advocated strengthening bilateral security cooperation with the United States and improving coordination with regional partners including Egypt and Jordan. On settlements and annexation issues, the party favored negotiated sovereignty extensions rather than unilateral annexation similar to positions discussed in the Trump peace plan. It supported economic measures to spur growth, drawing on precedents from Netanyahu's economic policies and tax proposals from Kulanu leaders. In social policy, New Hope promoted civil stability measures and proposed alternatives to education and welfare reforms debated in the Knesset committees.
Controversies and Criticism
The party faced criticism from both the right and left: right-wing critics accused New Hope of undermining nationalist agendas associated with Religious Zionism and settlement advocates, while left-wing critics questioned its positions on Palestinian territories and social policy. Media outlets such as Haaretz, The Times of Israel, and Yedioth Ahronoth covered allegations of opportunism tied to Sa'ar's split from Likud, and commentators compared the party's platform to centrist predecessors like Kadima. Internal disputes over primaries and candidate selection provoked legal challenges submitted to the Central Elections Committee and disputes adjudicated in the Supreme Court of Israel.