Right-wing politics in Israel
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| Right-wing politics in Israel | |
|---|---|
| Name | Right-wing politics in Israel |
| Region | Israel |
| Founders | Ze'ev Jabotinsky, Menachem Begin |
| Notable figures | Benjamin Netanyahu, Ariel Sharon, Naftali Bennett |
| Position | Right-wing to far-right |
Right-wing politics in Israel describes a spectrum of political parties, movements, and thinkers that emphasize nationalism, security, territorial claims, and market-oriented policies within the State of Israel. It spans mainstream conservatism, religious nationalism, and settler activism, influencing electoral coalitions, legislative agendas, and Israel's approach to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Key actors include secular nationalist parties, religious Zionist movements, and settler organizations that interact with institutions such as the Knesset and the Israel Defense Forces.
Overview and Definitions
Right-wing politics in Israel encompasses traditions from Revisionist Zionism and the legacy of Irgun and Lehi to contemporary blocs around figures like Benjamin Netanyahu, Ariel Sharon, and Menachem Begin; it includes parties such as Likud, Yamina, Religious Zionist Party, and Shas as well as movements like the Jewish Home and Gush Emunim. Definitions draw on debates over the West Bank (Judea and Samaria), the status of East Jerusalem, and policies toward the Palestine Liberation Organization and Hamas; economic stances often relate to reforms advocated by Yitzhak Shamir and neoliberal technocrats in the 1990s. Institutional actors include the Supreme Court of Israel, the Shin Bet, and the President of Israel, which interact with right-wing agendas.
Historical Development
The roots trace to Ze'ev Jabotinsky and the Revisionist Zionism movement of the 1920s and 1930s, the paramilitary legacy of Irgun and Lehi, and the political ascent of Menachem Begin and Herut after the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. The 1967 Six-Day War transformed territorial debates, while the 1977 electoral victory of Menachem Begin and Likud—ending the Mapai/Labor era—shifted alignments. The 1980s and 1990s saw leaders like Yitzhak Shamir and Benjamin Netanyahu implement market reforms and hardline security policies; the 1993 Oslo Accords triggered realignments and the rise of settler activism around Gush Emunim. Subsequent crises—the Second Intifada, the 2005 Gaza disengagement under Ariel Sharon, and the 2006 Lebanon War—reshaped party systems, spawning lists such as Kadima and later consolidations into modern coalitions.
Major Parties and Movements
Major right-wing formations include Likud, the Religious Zionist Party, Shas, United Torah Judaism (as a religious ally), Yamina, and splinter lists like New Right; ultranationalist and radical groups encompass Kach (banned), supporters of Meir Kahane’s legacy, and settler organizations linked to Shomron Regional Council and Samaria Regional Council. Civil society actors include Ateret Cohanim, Amana, and the Council of Jewish Communities of Judea, Samaria and Gaza; think tanks such as the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs and Institute for Zionist Strategies influence policy debates.
Ideology and Policy Positions
Core positions stress Jewish national identity linked to the Law of Return and the character of the State of Israel, territorial maximalism regarding Judea and Samaria, opposition to territorial concessions to the Palestinians, support for Jewish settlement expansion, and skepticism toward negotiated settlements like the Oslo Accords. Economic policy ranges from free-market reforms advocated by Ronald Lauder-aligned neoliberals to social welfare priorities championed by religious parties such as Shas. Debates engage legal frameworks like the Basic Laws of Israel and institutions such as the Attorney General of Israel and the High Court of Justice.
Electoral Trends and Demographics
Electoral strength has varied: Likud’s base includes veterans of Hagana-era nationalism, Mizrahi voters mobilized by parties such as Shas, religious Zionist constituencies in settlements and development towns, and right-leaning Russian-speaking immigrants from the Soviet Union/Russia. Demographic factors involve the growth of the religious-nationalist population in the West Bank settlements and among Haredi communities, while secular urban voters sometimes shift between Blue and White and right-wing lists. Elections such as those in 2015 Israeli legislative election and 2020 Israeli legislative election illustrate coalition arithmetic and right-wing mobilization.
Role in Government and Coalitions
Right-wing parties have led coalitions under Menachem Begin, Benjamin Netanyahu, Ariel Sharon, and other leaders, shaping ministries including the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Religious Services. Coalition dynamics involve alliances with religious parties like United Torah Judaism and Shas, negotiations with centrist lists such as Kadima and Yesh Atid, and interaction with watchdogs like Transparency International Israel. Political maneuvers—vote bargains, bloc discipline, and rotation agreements—have governed administrations from Begin’s 1977 cabinet to Netanyahu’s multiple terms and the 2021–2022 emergency government transitions involving Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid.
Domestic and Security Policies
Right-wing security doctrine emphasizes preemption and deterrence as seen in operations against Hamas in Operation Protective Edge and in responses to Hezbollah in the 2006 Lebanon War. Policies include settlement support, annexation proposals for parts of the West Bank, law-and-order initiatives affecting the Israel Police, and judicial reforms advocated by right-wing coalitions that have clashed with legal institutions such as the Supreme Court of Israel. Domestic debates involve education curricula shaped by the Ministry of Education (Israel) and controversies over minority rights related to the Israeli Arab population.
International Relations and Diplomacy
Right-wing diplomacy prioritizes alliances with the United States, particularly conservative administrations, ties with Russia and India on security and trade, and outreach to European conservative parties. Landmark diplomatic shifts include normalization agreements like the Abraham Accords involving United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, negotiated during a right-leaning diplomatic tilt, and ambivalent relations with the European Union over settlements and human rights disputes. Policy tools include coordination with the United States Department of State, lobbying by organizations such as AIPAC, and engagement with regional actors like Egypt and Jordan concerning the Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights.