Yisrael Ba'Aliya

Literally "Israel on the upswing," the party name is also a play on words that emphasizes the centrality of aliya - Jewish immigration - to Israel. Founded by world-renowned former Soviet refusnik Natan Sharansky in 1996, the party aims to promote both increased aliya from the Former Soviet Union and the West as well as advance the rights and improve the situation of new immigrants.

Palestinian Statehood

Yisrael Ba'Aliya supports Palestinian autonomy, but not a Palestinian state. The party - particularly party founder and chairman Natan Sharansky - is an ardent critic of the Palestinian Authority and Israel's willingness within the framework of Oslo to negotiate existential issues with an authoritative regime.

Peace Process

Party founder and chairman, Natan Sharansky is Israel's foremost proponent of democratic reform within the Palestinian Authority as a precondition for continued negotiations and concessions. His stance is based on personal experience in the Soviet Union and belief that as a dictatorial regime the Palestinian Authority will always try mask failure and corruption by blaming the external enemy - Israel. (Hear Sharansky's English interview on the subject).

Jerusalem

A united Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the Jewish State and, as such, is non-negotiable.

Israeli Communities in the Territories (Settlements) Yisrael Ba'Aliya sees the strategic and historic importance of the communities in the territories and supports their establishment and expansion within the framework of Israeli law and international commitments.

Demographic Issues

Yisrael Ba'Aliya was established in response to the massive influx of Jews from the Former Soviet Union to Israel in the 1990's. The party's primary goals are those of advancing the rights of new immigrants as well as encouraging Jews worldwide to make aliyah (immigrate to Israel). The party sees increased Jewish immigration as essential for improving Israel's demographic Jewish majority and safeguarding the country's Jewish and Zionist character.

Economy & Social Welfare

Yisrael Ba'Aliya supports a free, market-driven economy. Party constituents - primarily immigrants from the former Soviet Union - have no nostalgia for communism nor do they desire to see Israel practice socialist economic theory.

Religion & State

Yisrael Ba'Aliya is a bridge builder in terms of finding unique compromises in issues of religion and state. The party recognizes and fully supports the Jewish character of the state but works to sensitize the leadership about the needs and concerns of the large non-Jewish population among the new immigrants. The party would like to create options for civil marriage and burial. Another exemplary Yisrael Ba'Aliya policy is a drive for a Monday through Friday workweek (currently, the Israeli workweek runs Sunday - Thursday). Advocates argue that such a move would enhance the quality of life and mitigate tensions between the secular and religious communities regarding business operations on Saturday (Shabbat).