Likud << lih KOOD >> is a conservative political party in Israel. Likud and the moderate Israel Labor Party have traditionally been the nation’s dominant parties. Control over Israel’s government alternated between these two parties from 1977 to the early 2000’s. Both parties, however, have had to form coalitions with other parties to secure their power. In parliamentary elections held in 2019 and 2020, the new moderate Blue and White Party won far more seats than Labor.
Likud is actually a bloc (alliance) of several smaller groups. The word likud means unity in Hebrew. Likud has often opposed compromise in Israel’s conflict with Palestinians and other Arabs of the Middle East. In particular, Likud has favored Israel’s continued occupation of the territories it captured in a 1967 war with Arab states. Likud has also supported the establishment of Jewish settlements in these territories, which include the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Many Palestinians want to establish an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In addition, Likud tends to favor limitations on the government’s role in the economy.
The Likud bloc was formed in 1973 to challenge the Labor Party’s control of Israel’s government. In 1977, Likud won enough seats in the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) to gain power, and Likud leader Menachem Begin became prime minister. Likud remained in power after parliamentary elections in 1981. In both the 1984 and 1988 elections, however, Likud and the Labor Party won about the same number of Knesset seats. The two parties agreed to form a unity government after the 1984 election. Labor Party leader Shimon Peres and Likud leader Yitzhak Shamir alternated as prime minister during this period. Following the 1988 election, the parties formed a new coalition government.
In 1990, this coalition government collapsed when the Labor Party withdrew. Likud and smaller conservative parties later formed another coalition government with Shamir as prime minister. The Labor Party regained control after elections in 1992. In 1996, Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu won Israel’s first election in which voters directly chose the prime minister. In 1999, Netanyahu lost the prime minister’s post to Labor Party leader Ehud Barak. In 2001, Likud leader Ariel Sharon became prime minister after defeating Barak by a landslide. The 2001 election was the last in which voters directly elected the prime minister. Sharon formed a coalition Cabinet that included members of the Labor Party and several other parties. The Labor Party withdrew from this coalition in 2002. In 2003 elections, Likud won the largest number of Knesset seats. Sharon formed a new coalition government and remained as prime minister. In late 2004, Sharon dissolved this coalition government, but he soon formed a new one with the Labor Party as the key partner.
In late 2005, Sharon asked Israel’s president to dissolve parliament once again. He left Likud to form his own party, called Kadima, which is Hebrew for forward. Likud elected Benjamin Netanyahu as its leader in December. Netanyahu became prime minister of Israel for the second time after elections in February 2009, but Kadima had one more seat than Likud in parliament. Likud then won elections in 2013 and 2015 to retain power, while Kadima lost most of its influence.
In elections held in April and September 2019 and in March 2020, Likud won about the same number of seats in the Knesset as a new moderate party called the Blue and White Party. Neither party was able to form a government. In May 2020, Likud and the Blue and White Party formed a unity government. According to the terms of the agreement, Netanyahu was to continue as prime minister, with Blue and White Party leader Benny Gantz serving as alternate prime minister, a newly created position. After 18 months, Gantz was to become prime minister. However, in December, the government collapsed after failing to pass the budget for the coming year.
Elections took place in March 2021 for an unprecedented fourth time in two years. Likud received the most votes, but failed to win a parliamentary majority. Netanyahu also failed to build a new coalition government. The opposition, led by Yair Lapid of the centrist Yesh Atid party, formed an eight-party coalition, which the Knesset approved in June. Naftali Bennett of the right-wing Yamina party became prime minister.
In November 2022 elections, Likud won the most seats in the Knesset. After the election, Netanyahu formed a coalition government with a number of right-wing parties, including the far-right Religious Zionism party. Netanyahu became prime minister again in December.
