Likud

A Likud sticker: Mitzna – Another mistake of Labor.

The Likud (Union) was formed by the merger of Free Center, Laam and Gahal in preparation for the 1973 elections, and has become Israel's major conservative party. Since 1973, the Likud has either been the leading opposition party or the ruling party in the Knesset. Likud's leaders Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Shamir and Benjamin Netanyahu have all served as prime minister. In the 1984 election, Likud joined with Labor to form a national unity government with both Shamir and Labor's Shimon Peres alternatively serving as prime minister. Herut and the Liberal party merged and unified with Likud in 1988. Likud was in power from 1996 until 1999 when Netanyahu lost to Ehud Barak and again since February 2001 when Ariel Sharon won the Prime Ministerial Election.

Palestinian Statehood

Most members of the Likud Party strongly oppose the idea of a Palestinian state between Israel and Jordan. Likud argues that an independent Palestinian state would leave Israel with indefensible borders. Vulnerable borders - coupled with the current Palestinian leadership's propensity for violent confrontation and capability as a sovereign power to negotiate military pacts with neighboring belligerents - would ultimately invite increased terror attacks and lead to war. In such a war Israel would not have the strategic depth necessary to counter military drives into its most densely populated urban areas.

At the same time, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has called for the establishment of a Palestinian state stipulating that it be unarmed and nonbelligerent.

Peace Process

The Likud seeks to achieve peace and permanent borders in the framework of peace treaties between Israel and its neighbors and will seek cooperation with them on the practical level. Peace agreements must include full diplomatic relations, borders open to free movement, economic cooperation, and the establishment of joint projects in the fields of science, technology, tourism, and industry.

The Likud measures desire for peace by efforts of the parties in preventing hostile activities by terrorist organizations from territory they control and their willingness to destroy the infrastructure of such organizations.

Jerusalem

Jerusalem is the eternal, united capital of the State of Israel. Likud flatly rejects Palestinian proposals to divide Jerusalem as well as attempts to question Jerusalem's status as Israel's capital. Activities which undermine the status of Jerusalem, such as the functioning of Palestinian Authority institutions, are not acceptable.

Israeli Communities in the Territories (Settlements)

Advocates increasing the population of the Jewish communities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Demographic Issues

The Likud has set a goal of having seven million Jews in Israel within the next decade. The government will prepare the country to absorb both Jewish immigrants and and returning citizens and views this as a national undertaking that will strengthening Israel economically and culturally.

Economy & Social Welfare

The guiding principles of the Likud economic policy are: accelerated growth; increased employment; extensive domestic and foreign investments and absorption of immigrants into the labor force.

Religion & State

Likud wants to maintain the status quo regarding religion and state. Likud is willing to accommodate the needs of the religious communities, and desires to ease tensions between the secular and religious through dialogue and compromise. Likud opposes judicial coercion, abrasive legislation and offensive rhetoric.