Likud

Likud is a political party in Israel. The party adheres to Ze’ev Jabotinsky’s revisionist Zionism. This modern variant of Zionism is a secular right-wing variant of the original Zionism. The party is an amalgamation of Herut and a few liberal parties. Current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a member of this party.

Origin of Likud

A campaign billboard for Likud party and Netanyahu with portrait and slogan in Hebrew: “Likud voters, come to vote! Victory depends on you. Mahal: Likud lead by Netanyahu”. | Photo: Shutterstock

In the 1960s and 1970s, the party became popular among the Israeli population. After the ‘electoral revolt’ of 1977, it became the largest party. Their leader, Menachem Begin, became Prime Minister. This year also marked the beginning of a period in which Likud increasingly became the ruling party. For example, the party was involved in the conclusion of the peace agreements between Israel and Egypt in the 1970s. However, when the Oslo Accords were concluded in 1993, Likud was in the opposition. Party member Benjamin Netanyahu in particular spoke out strongly about these renewed peace negotiations.

Around 2000, a lesser period hit the party. Yet it took only a few years for this party to emerge stronger than ever before. Since 2009, Likud has been the ruling party without interruption. Benjamin Netanyahu has been the leader of the party for decades. He was the party leader from 1993 to 1999 and again from 2005.

Political positions

Likud is a right-wing party, in which the right refers to the position the party occupies in the Arab-Israeli conflict. The party particularly finds the security of Israel very important and is therefore reticent about peace negotiations with the Palestinians. Within the party, there is disagreement about the possibility of a two-state solution. Furthermore, the party is very liberal in economic terms. They are therefore strongly in favor of a free-market economy.