List of minor political parties in Israel

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Israel has numerous minor political parties. Under the proportional representation electoral system used to elect members of the Knesset, parties required only 1% of the vote to win a seat in the legislature until the 1992 elections, when the electoral threshold was increased to 1.5%. [1] This was raised to 3.25% prior to the 2015 elections. This article lists all parties to have contested a Knesset election, but failed to win seats.

PartyElectionsNotes
Abolish Income Tax1981
Ahavat Yisrael (Love Israel)2003
Ahrayut (Responsibility)2009Party advocating the creation of a constitution and the holding of regular referendums. [2]
Ale Yarok 1999, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2015Party advocating for the legalisation of marijuana.
Aliyah and Youth Movement1984
Am Shalem (Whole Nation)2013Formed by Haim Amsalem after he left Shas in 2010. The name was taken from his surname. [3]
Amkha (Ordinary People)1981, 1984Headed by Victor Tayar
Arab Brotherhood List1981Headed by Haneh Hadad
Arab Citizens' List1981
Arab List – The Centre1955 General Zionists Arab satellite list
Arab National Party 2006, 2015Formed in 1999 as a breakaway from the United Arab List and had two seats between 1999 and 2003.
Arab Reform Movement1977 Ratz Arab satellite list
Socialist Union (Bund) 1959
Beit Yisrael (House of Israel)1977
Bible Bloc Apr. 2019, Sept. 2019, 2020
Black Panthers 1973Headed by Shalom Cohen
Blue White Panthers1973
Brit HaTzohar 1949Headed by Aryeh Altman [4]
Brit Olam 2005, 2009, 2013, 2015, Apr. 2019
Brotherhood Movement1965, 1973
Casino Party1999
Citizen and State2003Party was taken over by Avraham Poraz prior to the 2006 elections and rebranded as Hetz
Council to Rescue the Homeland1981
Da'am Workers Party 1996, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2013, Sept. 2019, 2020Also known as the Organisastion for Democratic Action
Democratura2015
Derekh Aretz1988
Do Kiyum BeTzedek (Coexistence in Justice)1977
Economy Party2013Headed by Yulia Shamalov-Berkovich
Eretz Hadasha (New Country)2013Anti-corruption party headed by Eldad Yaniv. [5]
Flower Party2015Accused by Yachad as being a satellite list of Shas, as it used the same ballot symbol as Otzma Yehudit which ran on a joint list with Yachad.
For Jerusalem1949Headed by Daniel Auster
For New Immigrants and Demobilized Soldiers1951
Geulat Yisrael 1992Formed in 1990 as a breakaway from Agudat Yisrael and held a single seat going into the 1992 elections.
Handicapped Organisation1984
Has Mas1984
Hatikva (The Hope)1992Headed by Charlie Biton
HaYisraelim (The Israelis)2009, 2013Founded by Gideon Doron, a professor of political science at Tel Aviv University and president of the Israeli Association of Political Science. In the 2009 elections it focussed on political reform, mainly introducing regional elections, the appointment of ministers who were experts in their area of responsibility, establishment of a constitution and equal representation of men and women. For the 2013 elections it was taken over by David Cone, a TV journalist with Channel 9 and focussed on the rights of new immigrants.
Hofesh (Freedom)1977Headed by Shalom Cohen
Holocaust Handicapped and Injured Faction1959
Holocaust Survivors and Grown-Up Green Leaf Party 2009An alliance of some members of Ale Yarok and members of the "New Zionism" party, whose head was a Holocaust survivor and an activist for legalising cannabis, the main campaign issue for Ale Yarok. [6]
Hope for Change2013, 2015
Ihud Bnei HaBrit Apr. 2019, Sep. 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Independence1981, 1984
Independent Faction for Israeli Arabs1959Headed by Masaad Kassis, Mapai Arab satellite list
Independents1959
Initiative – Independents Movement1981
Israeli Arab Labour Party1959 Ahdut HaAvoda Arab satellite list
Israeli Arab List1973 Likud Arab satellite list
Justice for All2019 Animal rights Party
Koah HaKesef (Power of Money)1996, 2006, 2009Established as the Settlement Party in 1996 following economic crises in many kibbutzim. However, following a deal signed in the same year between the government, the Kibbutz Movement and the banks, the party's activity ceased. Contested the 2006 elections as HaLev and the 2009 elections as Koah HaKesef.
Koah LeHashpi'a (Power to Influence)2009, 2013, 2022Advocated greater rights for disabled citizens. [2]
Lahava (Flame)2003
Lazuz (To Move)2009Anti-corruption party, which also campaigned against high wages of executives. [2]
Leader 2003, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2020Party name was an acronym for "Progressive Liberal Democrat Party" (Hebrew : מפלגה מתקדמת ליברלית דמוקרטית, Miflaga Mitkademet Liberalit Demokratit)
Lehem (Bread)2006, 2009Party name was an acronym for "United Society Warriors" (Hebrew : לוחמי חברה מאוחדים, Lohamey Hevra Meuhadim) [7]
Lev LaOlim (Heart to the Immigrants)1999, 2006, 2009Party for immigrants from Central Asia. Also known as "Lev".
Liberal–Economic Power2020Libertarian party established in 2019 by former members of Zehut; originally known as the New Liberal Party. [8]
Likud – Popular Economic Movement1955
List for Aliyah1981
List for the Land of Israel1969Headed by Israel Eldad, composed of members of the Movement for Greater Israel
Living with Dignity2013, 2015
Man's Rights in the Family Party 1996, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2009Contested the 1999 and 2006 elections under the name "Justice for All"
Moreshet Avot (Heritage of the Fathers)1999, 2013, 2015Headed by Yosef Ba-Gad. Contested the 2015 elections under the name "Social Leadership".
Movement for Demobilised Soldiers1988
Movement for Democracy and Aliyah1992Russian immigrant party, commonly known as "Da" (the party's abbreviation, and the Russian word for "Yes")
Movement for Mortgage Affected, Homeless and Demobilised Soldiers1992
Movement for Moshavim1988Headed by Ra'anan Naim
Movement for Social Equality1973Headed by Avner Shaki
Movement for Social Justice1988Headed by Rafael Suissa
Movement for the Homeland1984
Movement for the Renewal of Social Zionism 1977, 1984Headed by Mordechai Ben-Porat; held a seat in the Knesset between 1983 and 1984 after Ben-Porat left Telem
National Organisation for the Defence of the Tenant1984
National Union1959Headed by Shlomo Cohen-Tzidon
Natural Law Party 1992, 1999
Negev Party1999
Nes (Miracle)1965Headed by Abie Nathan
New Arab Party1999
New Generation1977
New Immigrants Front1959
New Immigrants' List1955
New Liberal Party 1992Formed in 1990 as a breakaway from Likud and held three seats going into the 1992 elections.
On Wheels1992
One Israel 1981Formed by Yitzhak Yitzhaky in 1980 after he left Likud and held a single seat going into the 1981 elections.
Or (Light)2009, 2013, 2015Headed by Yaron Yadan, focussed on the separation of religion and state.
Or Movement1988
Original Religious List1955
Otzma (Strength)1981Headed by Rafael Halperin
Oz LaAniyim (Strength to the Poor)2006
Peace List1965 Rafi Arab satellite list
Peace List1969Headed by Gadi Yatziv
Pensioners1988
Pensioners' List1981
Pensioners, Immigrants and Senior Citizens1992
Pikanti1992
Pirate Party2013, 2015, Apr. 2019, Sept. 2019, 2020Based on the international Pirate Party model, and headed by former Holocaust Survivors and Ale Yarok Alumni leader Ohad Shem-Tov. [9]
Pnina Rosenblum1999Headed by Pnina Rosenblum
Popular Arab Bloc 1949 Mapam Arab satellite list
Popular Movement1973Headed by Asher Hassin
Power for Pensioners1999Headed by Gideon Ben-Yisrael
Progressive Center Party1999
Progressive Confederation1996
Progressive National Alliance 2003Formed in 1999 as a breakaway from the United Arab List and held a single seat going into the 2003 elections.
Religious Sephardim List1961
Sephardim-Ashkenazim Unity1951Headed by Eliyahu Kitov [10]
Sephardi National Party1959Headed by Avner Shaki
Shiluv1984
Silent Power1988
Social Justice2013Formed in February 2007 by Arcadi Gaydamak
Social Leadership2013, 2015, Apr 2019, Sep 2019, 2020Led by Ilan Mashiqah Jer-Zanbar, used Moreshet Avot (former party of Yosef Ba-Gad) as a shelf party [11]
Socialist Revolution List1973
Supporters of Democracy1961
Tafnit (Turnaround)2006Anti-corruption party established by Uzi Dayan. Merged into Likud in 2008. [12]
Tali1992
Tarshish1988Headed by Moshe Dwek
Telem Emuna1996Headed by Yosef Azran
Tent Movement1981
The Greens 1999, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2015
The New Zionism2006
Third Power1959
Tikva (Hope)1999
Torah VeAretz (Torah and Country)1992Headed by Moshe Levinger
Traditional Judaism List1949
Tzabar2009Headed by Boaz Toporovsky
Tzipor1992
U'Bizchutan (And by Their Merit)2015Party for ultra-Orthodox Jewish women.
Ultra-Orthodox List1949Headed by Eliyahu Kitov [13]
Union of North African Immigrants1959
United List of Religious Workers1949Headed by Yeshayahu Leibowitz
Unity – for Victor Tayar to the Knesset1988Headed by Victor Tayar
Unity for the Defence of New Immigrants 1996Formed in 1990 as a breakaway from the Alignment and had one MK between 1990 and 1992.
Unity Party 1981Formed in 1980 after the break-up of the Left Camp of Israel and held two seats going into the 1981 elections.
We are all Friends Na Nach 2013, 2015
We are Brothers2013
Women's Party1977, 1992Founded by Marcia Freedman. Headed by Ruth Rasnic in the 1992 elections
Workers Bloc1949 Mapai Arab satellite list
Working and Religious Women1949Headed by Tova Sanhadray [14]
Ya'ad 1981Formed in 1978 after the break-up of the Democratic Movement for Change and held a single seat going into the 1981 elections
Yachad 2015Founded by former Shas leader Eli Yishai. Ran on a joint list with Otzma Yehudit in the 2015 elections.
Yamin Yisrael 1996Formed in 1995 as a breakaway from Moledet and held one seat going into the 1996 elections
Yishai – Tribal Israel Together1988Headed by Shimon Ben-Shlomo
Yisrael Aheret (Another Israel)2003
Yisrael HaMithadeshet 2009Formed in 1999 as a breakaway from Yisrael BaAliyah and had two seats until the elections that year.
Yisrael Hazaka (Strong Israel)2009Breakaway from the Labor Party, headed by Efraim Sneh in 2008. Other members included Erela Golan and Michael Bar-Zohar. Focused on law and order. [15]
Yitzhak Gruenbaum List1949Headed by Yitzhak Gruenbaum
Young Israel1965, 1969
Youth Movement1981
Za'am2003
Zionist Panthers1977

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References

  1. The Electoral Threshold, Wasted Votes, and Proportionality Israel Democracy Institute
  2. 1 2 3 Pensioner wannabes? Haaretz, 21 January 2009
  3. Amsalem launches alternative to Shas The Jerusalem Post, 15 April 2011
  4. Brit HaTzohar Israel Democracy Institute
  5. על כוס בירה: אלדד יניב הכריז על הקמת מפלגה חדשה Haaretz, 15 October 2012
  6. ניצולי שואה והקנאביס: "אפילו לא פאתטי" Yedioth Ahronoth, 29 January 2019
  7. Word of the Day / Kikar: Back to Square One, Sandwich in Hand Haaretz, 6 October 2013
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  12. Uzi Dayan joins Likud, hails Netanyahu for fight on corruptio The Jerusalem Post, 27 July 2008
  13. Ultra-Orthodox List Israel Democracy Institute
  14. Working and Religious Women Israel Democracy Institute
  15. "Sneh's car torched next to his Herzliya home". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com.