Chairman: Yossi Beilin
Photo: Eli Elgarat
Meretz
Chairman: Yossi Beilin
Platform:
- Ending the occupation and evacuating settlers and the IDF from the West Bank. There will be no comprehensive peace without agreements with Syria and Lebanon.
- Emphasis on equality as the basis for the belief in peace, social justice, and human rights. The welfare state is a tool for the implementation of social justice, by promoting workers, guaranteeing social services of significant magnitude, and an obligation to financially assist workers. A commitment to assist kibbutzim.
- The State of Israel is the Jewish people's state and a country of all its citizens. The party aims to continuously boost human rights in accordance with international norms and protect those still discriminated against within Israeli society.
- Affirmative action to improve the status of women and steps that would see full equality of rights between Jews and Arabs through affirmative action.
- Freedom of religion and freedom from religious. Reinforcement of the High Court of Justice's position within society and the drafting of an Israeli constitution.
Party history:
Party was established in 1992 after three left-wing parties joined forces. Won 12 Knesset seats in the elections and played a significant role in Yitzhak Rabin's government while backing his peace policies. At the same time, the party disappointed many by compromising on questions of religion and human rights in order to accommodate coalition partner Shas.
In 1996, Yossi Sarid took over the party's leadership. The party won 9 seats in the subsequent elections. Later, the Shinui faction quit Meretz and regained its independence.
In 1999, Meretz won 10 Knesset seats and joined Ehud Barak's coalition, quitting a year later over disagreements with Shas.
In 2003, Meretz dropped to six seats, prompting Sarid to quit. Yossi Beilin then quit the Labor party and joined Meretz with his Yachad movement. The party is now called Meretz-Yachad. Beilin was elected as the party's leader in 2004.
Notable figures:
Yossi Beilin
Haim Oron
Ran Cohen
Zahava Gal-On
Avshalom Vilan
