Likud facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Likud – National Liberal Movement הליכוד – תנועה לאומית ליברלית‎
Chairperson	Benjamin Netanyahu
Founder	Menachem Begin
Founded	1973 (alliance) 1988 (unified party)
Merger of	Gahal (Herut and Liberal Party), Free Centre, National List and Movement for Greater Israel
Headquarters	Metzudat Ze'ev 38 King George Street Tel Aviv, Israel
Youth wing	Likud Youth
Membership (2012)	125,000
Ideology	Conservatism National conservatism Economic liberalism Right-wing populism Zionism Historical: Liberal conservatism Revisionist Zionism
Political position	Right-wing
European affiliation	ECR Party (global partner) Patriots.eu (observer)
International affiliation	International Democracy Union
Colours	Blue
Knesset	32 / 120
Most MKs	48 (1981)
Election symbol
מחל‎ م‌ح‌ل‎
Party flag

Likud (which means "The Consolidation" in Hebrew) is a major right-wing political party in Israel. It was started in 1973 by Menachem Begin and Ariel Sharon. They brought together several other right-wing groups.

Likud's big win in the 1977 elections was a huge moment for Israel. It was the first time a right-wing party got the most votes and the left-wing parties lost power. Likud led the country for most of the 1980s.

After losing the 1992 election, Likud's leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, became prime minister in 1996. His government later fell, and Likud lost power in 1999.

In 2001, Ariel Sharon became prime minister. Likud won strongly in 2003. However, in 2005, Sharon left Likud to form a new party called Kadima. This caused Likud to lose many seats in the 2006 elections.

Benjamin Netanyahu returned to lead Likud. After the 2009 elections, Likud gained seats and formed a new government. Netanyahu was prime minister from 2009 until 2021. Likud was often the party with the most votes in elections during this time. Netanyahu became prime minister again after the 2022 election.

A member of the Likud party is sometimes called a "Likudnik." The party's election symbol is a Hebrew word that reflects its start as a group of different parties.

History of Likud

How Likud Started

Likud was formed on September 13, 1973. It was an alliance of several right-wing parties, including Herut and the Liberal Party. Herut had been Israel's largest right-wing party since 1948.

These parties joined together to form Likud, which means "Consolidation." It showed that the right-wing groups in Israel were coming together. Likud worked as a group of parties until 1988. Then, all the member parties officially merged into one single party under the Likud name. From the beginning, Likud had strong support from working-class Jewish people from North Africa and the Middle East.

In its first election, Likud won 39 seats in the Knesset (Israel's parliament). In 1977, Likud won 43 seats, becoming the largest party. Menachem Begin became prime minister. This was the first time since Israel's independence that a left-wing party was not in charge. Begin signed important peace agreements with Egypt in 1978 and 1979. In the 1981 election, Likud won 48 seats.

Likud has always been a mix of politicians with different ideas. For example, in the 1981 election, there were differences between the populist wing, which focused on ordinary people, and the Liberal wing, which represented business interests.

Leaders: Shamir and Netanyahu

Likud founder Menachem Begin

On August 28, 1983, Menachem Begin decided to step down as prime minister. Yitzhak Shamir took over as leader. Shamir was known for his strong views.

In the 1984 election, Likud won 41 seats, fewer than the main left-wing party. This led to a special "rotation government" where the prime minister role was shared. Shimon Peres was prime minister first, then Shamir took over in 1986.

Likud won the 1988 election. Shamir continued as prime minister. In 1990, the government fell apart. Shamir then formed a new government with other right-wing parties. This government lasted until the 1992 election, which Likud lost to the Israeli Labor Party.

After losing in 1992, Shamir stepped down. Likud held its first primary election in 1993 to choose a new leader. Benjamin Netanyahu won and became the leader of the opposition.

In 1996, an election was called. Netanyahu narrowly won the vote for prime minister. He became the new prime minister of Israel.

Logo of the Likud-Tzomet List from the 1996 election

In 1998, Netanyahu agreed to give up some land as part of a peace deal. This caused some Likud members to leave and form a new party. Netanyahu's government then collapsed, leading to the 1999 election. Ehud Barak of the Labor Party defeated Netanyahu. After this loss, Netanyahu resigned as Likud leader.

In September 1999, Ariel Sharon won the leadership election to replace Netanyahu. In 2001, Sharon defeated Barak in an election for prime minister. Sharon won again in the 2003 elections.

During Sharon's time as leader, Likud faced a big disagreement. Sharon wanted to remove Israeli settlements from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. This idea was very unpopular with many in the party.

Sharon and the Kadima Party

Sharon's plan to remove settlements caused many Likud supporters to be upset. In March 2005, his budget plan faced strong opposition. In September 2005, his opponents in Likud tried to force an early leadership election, but they lost.

On November 21, 2005, Sharon announced he was leaving Likud. He formed a new party called Kadima. This new party included people from both Likud and Labor who supported his plan to remove settlements. Sharon also announced that new elections would happen in early 2006.

Several people wanted to become the new leader of Likud, including Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu's Second Time as Leader

Netanyahu won the leadership election in December 2005. Polls before the 2006 election showed that Likud's support had dropped a lot, and Kadima was very popular.

A truck canvassing for Likud in Jerusalem in advance of the 2006 election

In January 2006, Ariel Sharon became very ill. Ehud Olmert took over as Kadima's leader. Kadima won the 2006 election with 29 seats. Likud had a big loss, coming in fourth place with only 12 seats.

After the election, Netanyahu was re-elected as Likud Leader in 2007. In 2008, Olmert resigned as prime minister. In the 2009 election, Likud won 27 seats, the second-largest number. However, Likud and its allies won enough seats for Netanyahu to form a government. He became prime minister again.

Netanyahu was re-elected as Likud leader in 2012. In October 2012, new elections were called for January 2013.

Working with Yisrael Beiteinu

Before the 2013 election, Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman, the leader of Yisrael Beiteinu, announced that their parties would run together. They called their joint list "Likud Yisrael Beiteinu." This partnership lasted until July 2014.

In the 2013 elections, the Likud–Yisrael Beiteinu alliance won 31 seats. Netanyahu continued as prime minister. His government fell apart in December 2014, leading to new elections in 2015.

Likud won the 2015 election, getting 30 seats. The party then formed a government with other parties. In May 2016, Yisrael Beiteinu joined the government but left in December 2018. This caused Netanyahu to call new elections for April 2019.

Elections from 2019 to 2022

During the April 2019 election campaign, Likud helped form a group of right-wing parties. After the election, the Kulanu party merged into Likud.

In the September 2019 election campaign, Likud made a deal with the Zehut party. Zehut agreed to drop out of the election and support Likud.

Before the 2020 election, Gideon Sa'ar tried to challenge Netanyahu for the Likud leadership but was unsuccessful. In December 2020, Sa'ar and four other Likud members left to form a new party called New Hope.

Before the 2021 election, the Gesher party merged into Likud. For the first time, Likud included a Muslim candidate on its list.

Likud also helped form a joint list for other religious Zionist parties. Likud won the most seats in the 2022 Israeli legislative election.

Likud's Main Ideas

Likud focuses on national security. It believes Israel needs a strong military to protect itself. The party has been careful about making deals with neighbors it believes want to harm Israel. However, Likud has also signed peace agreements, like the one with Egypt in 1979.

Likud is seen as the main party in the "national camp" in Israeli politics.

Views on Territory

The original Likud platform from 1977 stated that "between the Sea and the Jordan there will only be Israeli sovereignty." This meant they believed all the land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River should be under Israeli control.

The 1999 Likud platform supported Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It said that these settlements show the Jewish people's right to the Land of Israel. Likud also believes the Jordan River should be Israel's permanent eastern border and that Jerusalem belongs to Israel.

The 1999 platform also said that the Government of Israel "flatly rejects the establishment of a Palestinian Arab state west of the Jordan river." It said Palestinians could manage their own lives but not as a fully independent country.

In 2009, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a speech where he supported the idea of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, but with certain conditions. However, in 2015, he said that if he were elected, a Palestinian state would not be created. He later clarified that he wanted a "peaceful, sustainable two-state solution."

The Likud Constitution from May 2014 is less clear on this topic. It talks about strengthening Jewish settlements but does not directly say no to a Palestinian state.

Views on the Economy

Likud says it supports a free market economy, where businesses have a lot of freedom. However, in reality, it has often used a mixed economy, which combines free market ideas with some government control.

Under Benjamin Netanyahu as finance minister, Likud passed laws that lowered taxes and customs duties. It also supported free trade with countries like the European Union and the United States. Likud has also sold off many government-owned companies to private owners. Netanyahu believed that Israel's largest labor union had too much power.

Likud's economic ideas can vary among its members. Some Likud members support more left-leaning economic policies that are popular with many voters.

Views on Palestinians

Historically, Likud has been against a Palestinian state and supported Israeli settlements. However, it has also been the party that made the first peace deals with Arab countries. For example, in 1979, Likud Prime Minister Menachem Begin signed the Camp David Accords with Egypt. This returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt in exchange for peace.

Yitzhak Shamir was the first Israeli prime minister to meet Palestinian leaders at the Madrid Conference of 1991. However, Shamir did not agree to a Palestinian state.

In 2002, during a period of conflict, Israel's Likud-led government reoccupied Palestinian towns. In 2005, Ariel Sharon went against Likud's usual policy. He carried out a plan to remove Israeli settlements from the Gaza Strip and four settlements in the northern West Bank. Sharon left Likud after this plan and created the new Kadima party.

As of 2018, most Likud members supported Jewish settlements in the West Bank. They were also against a Palestinian state and against removing settlements from Gaza.

Some people have said that Likud, under Netanyahu, intentionally supported the rule of Hamas in Gaza. This was supposedly to divide Palestinians and make a two-state solution harder to achieve.

In the 2019 elections, Likud was criticized for using anti-Arab language. Some members, including Netanyahu, called Arab and Palestinian citizens of Israel "threats" or "enemies."

Views on Culture

Likud generally supports free enterprise and nationalism. Nationalism means having a strong sense of pride and loyalty to one's country. The party has sometimes changed its ideas to fit its voters. For example, its support for economic programs that help ordinary people might seem different from its free-market ideas. But these programs are meant to help its voters, who are often working-class people in smaller towns.

On the topic of religion and state, Likud has a moderate view. It supports keeping things as they are. Over time, the party has become more popular with religious Jewish people. Many Orthodox Israelis find Likud more appealing than other major parties.

Likud promotes a return to traditional Jewish culture. It emphasizes Israeli national symbols like the Israeli flag and the victory in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. In July 2018, Likud lawmakers passed a law that declares Israel as the "nation-state of the Jewish people."

Likud publicly supports freedom of the press and private media. However, a Likud government once closed a popular right-wing radio station that often criticized the government.

Historically, Likud and its earlier groups supported a secular (non-religious) nationalism. But Likud's first prime minister, Menachem Begin, even though he was not religious, showed respect for Jewish traditions and religious Jews. This helped Likud gain power in 1977.

Views on Foreign Policy

Since the 1990s, Likud has taken a strong stance against Iran and groups like Hezbollah.

Likud prime ministers Ariel Sharon and Benjamin Netanyahu have generally tried to improve relations with Russia. Netanyahu even used posters of himself meeting Russian president Vladimir Putin in his 2019 election campaign. However, since the 2022 conflict in Ukraine, Likud has been divided. Netanyahu wants to keep good relations with Russia and stay out of the conflict. But some Likud members want Israel to support Ukraine and align more with Western countries.

Likud governments in the 2010s also worked to build stronger ties with Japan, China, and India. This was to make Israel less dependent on Western Europe. In 2017, Netanyahu called closer ties with China a "marriage made in heaven." Likud has also kept connections with India's ruling party.

Likud governments have had close ties with the Republican Party in the United States. This has led to a feeling that Likud prefers Republicans over the Democratic Party. For example, in 2015, Netanyahu gave a speech to the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress without talking to the Democratic president first.

The 1999 bombing in Yugoslavia was criticized by Likud's foreign minister, Ariel Sharon. Relations between Serbia and Israel improved during Netanyahu's time as prime minister in the 2010s. Likud has also had long-term political ties with Hungary's ruling party.

In recent years, Likud has built connections with right-wing populist parties in Europe. These include parties from Spain, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, France, Sweden, Denmark, Romania, and Belgium.

Likud Leaders

Leader			Took office	Left office	Prime Ministerial tenure	Knesset elections	Elected/reelected as leader
1		Menachem Begin	1973	1983	1977–1983	1977, 1981
2		Yitzhak Shamir	1983	1993	1983–1984, 1986–1992	1984, 1988, 1992	1983, 1984, and 1992
3		Benjamin Netanyahu	1993	1999	1996–1999	1996, 1999	1993, and 1999 (Jan)
4		Ariel Sharon	1999	2005	2001–2006	2001, 2003	1999 (Sep) and 2002
(3)		Benjamin Netanyahu	2005	Incumbent	2009–2021, 2022–	2006, 2009, 2013, 2015, Apr 2019, Sep 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022	2005 2007 2012, 2014, and 2019

How Leaders Are Chosen

For a long time, Menachem Begin was the unchallenged leader of Likud. From 1983 to 1992, Likud chose its leaders through votes within party groups. The 1983 and 1984 leadership elections were decided by a vote of Herut's Central Committee. After Yitzhak Shamir won this vote in 1983, the leaders of the other parties in the Likud group agreed to have him lead the whole alliance.

The 1992 Likud leadership election was the first after Likud became one unified party. This election was also decided by a vote of the Likud Central Committee. After 1992, the party started letting all its general members vote for the leader. The first time this happened was in 1993.

Choosing Knesset Members

Before the 2006 election, the Likud's Central Committee gave up its power to choose the list of candidates for the Knesset. Instead, the regular members of the party got to vote on who would be on the list. This was done to improve the party's image, as the Central Committee had a reputation for corruption.

Likud Youth Movement

The Likud Youth Movement is the official group for all young members of Likud. It is part of a larger international group for young democratic politicians.

Election Results for Knesset

Election	Leader	Votes	%	Seats	+/−	Status
1973	Menachem Begin	473,309	30.2 (#2)	39 / 120	7	Opposition
1977		583,968	33.4 (#1)	43 / 120	4	Coalition
1981		718,941	37.1 (#1)	48 / 120	3	Coalition
1984	Yitzhak Shamir	661,302	31.9 (#2)	41 / 120	7	Coalition
1988		709,305	31.1 (#1)	40 / 120	1	Coalition
1992		651,229	24.9 (#2)	32 / 120	8	Opposition
1996	Benjamin Netanyahu	767,401	25.1 (#2)	22 / 120	10	Coalition
1999		468,103	14.1 (#2)	19 / 120	3	Opposition
2003	Ariel Sharon	925,279	29.4 (#1)	38 / 120	19	Coalition
2006	Benjamin Netanyahu	281,996	9.0 (#4)	12 / 120	26	Opposition
2009		729,054	21.6 (#2)	27 / 120	15	Coalition
2013		884,631	23.3 (#1)	20 / 120	7	Coalition
2015		984,966	23.4 (#1)	30 / 120	12	Coalition
Apr 2019		1,138,772	26.5 (#1)	35 / 120	5	Caretaker
Sep 2019		1,113,617	25.1 (#2)	32 / 120	4	Caretaker
2020		1,349,171	29.5 (#1)	36 / 120	4	Coalition
2021		1,066,892	24.2 (#1)	30 / 120	6	Opposition
2022		1,115,049	23.4 (#1)	32 / 120	2	Coalition

Prime Minister Election Results

See also

In Spanish: Likud para niños