National camp
In Israeli politics, the national camp (Hebrew: המחנה הלאומי) or right-wing bloc is an informal coalition of nationalist and right-wing, religious conservative political parties that since 1977 has frequently co-operated to form governments.[1]
It is led by Likud, and includes parties to its right as well as religious parties. In the past, it has included the National Religious Party and the National Union. Today, other parties considered to be in the national camp include Gesher (since 2020), Tkuma, The Jewish Home, the New Right, Shas, Yisrael Beiteinu (until late 2019), Zehut, Noam, Otzma Yehudit and United Torah Judaism.[2][3][4][5][6][7]
Right-wing bloc
Following the September 2019 Israeli legislative election, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formed a "right-wing bloc" for the purposes of coalition negotiations, consisting of Likud, Shas, United Torah Judaism and Yamina, that would support Netanyahu as Prime Minister.[8] In February 2021, Yamina left the bloc to pursue negotiations with opposition parties, and the Religious Zionist Party, which had split from Yamina, also declined to sign on, despite supporting Netanyahu as Prime Minister.[9] However, the Religious Zionist Party later rejoined the bloc and participated in bloc meetings.[10]
Following the fall of the Netanyahu government in June 2021, the four parties of the right-wing bloc went into the opposition, but continued to hold regular joint meetings in Netanyahu's office.[11][12]
Composition
Current
Name | Years | Position | Ideology | Leader | MKs | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Likud | 1977–present | Centre-right to right-wing | Conservatism | Benjamin Netanyahu | 29 / 120
| ||
Shas | 1984–present | Right-wing | Religious conservatism | Aryeh Deri | 9 / 120
| ||
United Torah Judaism[a] | 1992–present | Right-wing | Religious conservatism | Moshe Gafni | 7 / 120
| ||
Religious Zionist Party[b] | 1998–present | Far-right | Religious Zionism, Ultranationalism | Bezalel Smotrich | 7 / 120
|
^ a: Includes Agudat Israel and Degel HaTorah.
^ b: Includes National Union-Tkuma, Otzma Yehudit and Noam.
Right-wing parties not in the bloc
Name | Years | Position | Ideology | Leader | MKs | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yisrael Beiteinu | 1999–2019 | Centre-right to right-wing | National liberalism | Avigdor Lieberman | 7 / 120
|
In January 2022, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett suggested he was planning to form a "new national camp" with Yamina, Yisrael Beiteinu and New Hope, excluding Likud.[13] The three parties parted their ways during the collapse of 36th Cabinet of Israel.
The national camp in the Knesset
Knesset | Years | Leader | MKs |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 1949–1951 | Menachem Begin | 38 / 120
|
2 | 1951–1955 | Peretz Bernstein | 43 / 120
|
3 | 1955–1959 | Menachem Begin | 45 / 120
|
4 | 1959–1961 | Menachem Begin | 43 / 120
|
5 | 1961–1965 | Menachem Begin | 52 / 120
|
6 | 1965–1969 | Menachem Begin | 48 / 120
|
7 | 1969–1974 | Menachem Begin | 50 / 120
|
8 | 1974–1977 | Menachem Begin | 58 / 120
|
Knesset | Years | Leader | MKs |
---|---|---|---|
9 | 1977–1981 | Menachem Begin | 63 / 120
|
10 | 1981–1984 | Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Shamir | 64 / 120
|
11 | 1984–1988 | Yitzhak Shamir | 61 / 120
|
12 | 1988–1992 | Yitzhak Shamir | 65 / 120
|
13 | 1992–1996 | Yitzhak Shamir, Benjamin Netanyahu | 59 / 120
|
14 | 1996–1999 | Benjamin Netanyahu | 64 / 120
|
15 | 1999–2003 | Benjamin Netanyahu, Ariel Sharon | 60 / 120
|
16 | 2003–2006 | Ariel Sharon | 69 / 120
|
17 | 2006–2009 | Benjamin Netanyahu | 50 / 120
|
18 | 2009–2013 | Benjamin Netanyahu | 65 / 120
|
19 | 2013–2015 | Benjamin Netanyahu | 61 / 120
|
20 | 2015–2019 | Benjamin Netanyahu | 67 / 120
|
21 | 2019–2019 | Benjamin Netanyahu | 65 / 120
|
22 | 2019–2020 | Benjamin Netanyahu | 55 / 120
|
23 | 2020–2021 | Benjamin Netanyahu | 58 / 120
|
24 | 2021–2022 | Benjamin Netanyahu | 59 / 120
|
25 | 2022–present | Benjamin Netanyahu | 64 / 120
|
References
- ^ Shamir, Michal (2017). The Elections in Israel 2015. Taylor & Francis. p. 77.
- ^ Shamir, Michal (2017). The Elections in Israel 2015. Taylor & Francis. p. 83.
- ^ Orkibi, Eithan (2017). Israel at the Polls 2013: Continuity and Change in Israeli Political Culture. Routledge.
- ^ "Revived Labor Party To Bury Barak's Career". Arutz Sheva. 14 September 2011.
- ^ "Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked quit Jewish Home to set up new party". The Jewish Chronicle. 30 December 2018.
- ^ "Zehut Party submits slate, will not join United Right". Jewish News Syndicate. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
- ^ "Israel's 35th government deal". TV7. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
- ^ "Netanyahu: It's either my right-wing bloc, or a dangerous Arab-backed government".
- ^ "Haredi parties pledge loyalty to Netanyahu; Smotrich's Religious Zionism doesn't".
- ^ "Netanyahu calls emergency meeting of right-wing bloc". 3 June 2021.
- ^ "Netanyahu: We will topple the 'fraudulent' Bennett government".
- ^ "Despite resigning as MK in plea deal, Deri to continue leading Shas Knesset activity". Times of Israel. 27 January 2022.
- ^ "Bennett said to eye 'new national camp' with coalition partners Liberman, Sa'ar". Times of Israel. 29 January 2022.