Otzma Yehudit עוצמה לישראל | |
---|---|
Founded | 13 November 2012 |
Headquarters | Jerusalem |
Ideology | National Conservatism, Greater Israel, Anti-Arabism, Neo-Zionism, Hardalism, Halakha, Religious Zionism, Revisionist Zionism |
Political position | Far-right[1][2][3][4] or Right wing[5][6][7][8] |
Knesset | 0 / 120
|
Election symbol | |
נץ | |
Website | |
http://www.otzmaleisrael.co.il/ | |
Otzma LeYisrael (Hebrew: עָצְמָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, lit. Strength to Israel), also Strong Israel,[9] is a nationalist political party in Israel. Its political views have been described as far-right[1][2][3][4] and right-wing.[5][6][7][8] It was established on 13 November 2012 by MKs Aryeh Eldad and Michael Ben-Ari, who split from National Union, to form a new party ahead of the 2013 elections.[10] The party failed to pass the minimum 2% voting threshold by 9000 votes and did not receive any seats in the 19th Knesset.[11][12]
History
Eldad was first elected to the Knesset on the National Union list in 2003. In November 2007, Eldad formed a new secular far-right party named Hatikva. Ultimately the party ran as a faction of the National Union in the 2009 elections, and Eldad retained his seat.
Ben-Ari ran for Knesset unsuccessfully in the 2003 elections with the Herut – The National Movement party, and in the 2006 elections with the Jewish National Front party, both times failing to pass the threshold. Leading up to the 2009 elections, the Jewish National Front, headed by a long-time Kach party activist Baruch Marzel, joined Eretz Yisrael Shelanu, a new party founded by Chabad Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpo. The joint list ran as part of the National Union, with Michael Ben-Ari, its representative, taking the 4th spot on the alliance's list. The National Union won four seats, allowing Ben-Ari to enter the Knesset.
Eldad and Ben-Ari decided to form the new faction, named Otzma LeYisrael ("Strength to Israel"), ahead of the 2013 elections, after they were unable to come to an agreement with the National Union, which was expected to be forming a joint list with HaBayit HaYehudi. Eldad was chosen to lead new party's list, followed by Ben-Ari, Baruch Marzel, and Aryeh King, who is affiliated with Israel Land Fund.
Controversies
In December 2012, Otzma LeYisrael ran an ad campaign on billboards and bus advertisements that included words in Arabic such as equality and taxes. One of the signs was banned by the Israeli Central Elections Committee on the ground that the ad was racist. The ad shows the Arabic word "loyalty" with Hebrew caption "Because without duties there are no rights." [13] This ban was later reversed by the Supreme Court of Israel.[14]
Platform
Otzma Leyisrael regards the Land of Israel as the national home of the Jewish nation, and therefore opposes any territorial secession. Otzma Leyisrael wants only citizens they regard as loyal to Israel as a Jewish state to be allowed to vote. Aryeh Eldad, the leader of the party, has proposed that Palestinian Arabs be given Jordanian citizenship, based on a "Jordan is Palestine" argument, a proposal that drew a formal protest from the Jordanian foreign minister.[15] In the Matzav Ha'umah show, Aryeh Eldad talked about voluntary population transfer of the Arabs.
Knesset members (18th Knesset)
References
- ^ a b Akiva Novick (16 January 2013). "Far-right MKs: Netanyahu trying to steal settlers' votes". Ynetnews. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- ^ a b Haaretz (23 January 2013). "Israel Elections 2013, the day after". Haaretz. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- ^ a b Samuel Thrope. "Hanin Zoabi, Balad And The Jewish Vote". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- ^ a b Yifa Yaakov and Yoel Goldman (18 January 20). "Friday night TV polls show right-wing bloc heading to victory". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
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(help) - ^ a b Roi Mandel (13 December 2012). "Otzma LeYisrael campaign nixed over racism". Ynetnews. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
- ^ a b Hassan Shaalan (15 January 2013). "Rightists protest 'illegal construction' in Arab village". Ynetnews. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
- ^ a b Chaim Levinson (21 January 2013). "Otzma Leyisrael accuses Israeli Arab activists of attacking them on campaign tour". Haaretz. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
- ^ a b ARIEL BEN SOLOMON (16 January 2013). "Right-wing activists march in Arab town, Musmus". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
- ^ Harkov, Lahav (November 13, 2012). "Eldad, Ben-Ari form new party: Strong Israel". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
- ^ http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=291611
- ^ http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/164547#.UQJBZh1FUkQ
- ^ Gil Ronen (24 January 2013). "Otzma Leyisrael was 9,000 Votes Short". Israel National News. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
- ^ Matti Friedman (16 January 2013). "Coexistence, despite everything". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- ^ Elad Benari (16 January 2013). "Supreme Court Allows Otzma LeYisrael and Balad Ads". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- ^ Keinon, Herb (May 26, 2009). "Jordan summons Israeli ambassador on bill". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
External links
- official site Template:He icon
- Aryeh Eldad Knesset webpage Template:He icon
- Michael Ben AriKnesset webpage Template:He icon