The Democrats הדמוקרטים | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chair | Yair Golan |
| Founders |
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| Founded | 12 July 2024; 16 months ago (2024-07-12) |
| Merger of | Israeli Labor Party Meretz |
| Headquarters | Tel Aviv, Israel |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Centre-left[5] toleft-wing[4] |
| European affiliation | Party of European Socialists (observer) |
| International affiliation | Socialist International[6] Progressive Alliance[7] |
| Colours | Blue |
| Slogan | מנהיגות אמת לישראל (True leadership for Israel) |
| Knesset | 4 / 120 |
| Website | |
| democrats | |
| Part ofa series on |
| Liberalism in Israel |
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Historical parties |
The Democrats (Hebrew:הדמוקרטים,romanized: HaDemokratim) is asocial democratic andZionist political party inIsrael, formed by the merger of the center-leftIsraeli Labor Party and the left-wingMeretz party in July 2024. It is led byYair Golan, who led the Labor Party prior to the merger and served as an MK for theDemocratic Union before joining Meretz.
The Democrats is described as "the political home of theliberal-democratic camp in Israel",[8] and as a part of what Golan calls the "Zionist left".[9]
In the2022 Israeli legislative election, the left-wing Meretz party won 3.16% of the vote failing, for the first time, to pass theelectoral threshold (3.25%) required to qualify for seats in the Knesset, while the Labor Party just managed to pass, with 3.69% of the vote, winning only four seats, its worst ever performance in terms of popular vote.[10] Labor leaderMerav Michaeli was criticized for having refused to enter into anelectoral pact with Meretz as the party's loss contributed toBenjamin Netanyahu's victory in the election.[11]
Negotiations began between Labor and Meretz following the 2022 election, with Meretz party secretary general Tomer Reznik and former Meretz MKMichal Rozin heading negotiations on behalf of their party and Labor MKsGilad Kariv andNaama Lazimi in charge of the negotiations for Labor, withYair Golan joining the negotiations later.[12][13]
Polling conducted throughout 2023 and in 2024, in the months prior to Labor's leadership election, suggested that in the2026 Israeli legislative election Labor may fail to pass the threshold and be shut out of the Knesset, while Meretz was projected to narrowly pass the threshold and win four seats. Polls taken in June prior to the merger agreement projected that if the parties were to run together, they would win more than ten seats.[14][15]
Golan launched his leadership campaign for Labor in early March 2024 on a platform of uniting Labor, Meretz, and other organizations.[16] He announced the formation of "The Democrats" on 18 March 2024, citing a need for a "democratic, free, broad-based, [and strongly Zionist] party", as an alternative to the Netanyahu government, and called for an early Knesset election.[17] Golan waselected Labor leader in a "landslide victory" on 28 May 2024.[18]
On 30 June, the two parties jointly announced that they had agreed to a merger.[12] Under the merger agreement, there will be one Meretz representative in every four spots on the new party's electoral list, as well as on the party bodies, and there will also be representation for Meretz's municipal factions.[19] Golan has said that the party aims to be a "broad home for theliberal-democratic public in Israel".[4] Golan will receive two seats in the top ten slots.[20] The representation agreement will be in effect only for the next election; the party's electoral slate and members of representative bodies will be chosen by partyprimaries. The agreement designated Labor Party leader Yair Golan as leader and chairman of the new party.[12]
A convention of delegates from Labor and Meretz and of the2023 Israeli judicial reform protests approved the merger on 12 July 2024 in Tel Aviv.[21][22]
Under the agreement, Meretz and Labor continue as separate corporate and budgetary entities, and their factions in theHistadrut, municipal councils, and other bodies outside the Knesset will not merge at this stage, but will cooperate.[21]
Despite the merger, members of The Democrats continue to be identified in the25th Knesset as members of theIsraeli Labor Party, becauseOfir Katz, the chairman of theKnesset House Committee, and other members of the government coalition sitting on the committee, refused to agree to formally rename the Knesset faction in February 2025.[23]
The party supports atwo-state solution to theIsraeli–Palestinian conflict. Yair Golan states The Democrats is the only Zionist party which opposes theIsraeli occupation of the West Bank.[24]
Golan said thePalestinian Authority would be integral to governing Gaza the "day after".[25] The party agreement mentions that "rebuilding Gaza is an Israeli interest".[26]
Golan also opposed the occupation and settlement of theGaza Strip, saying "it will cost us in hostages and soldiers' blood".[27]
The party opposes the2023 Israeli judicial reform. The party's merger agreement states: "We will fight for a full andsubstantial democracy (...) which will include protection ofindividual rights andminority rights (...) we will uphold the fullseparation of powers, prevent abuses by government institutions, and safeguard thejudicial independence".[26]
The party supports social democratic policies, such asaffordable housing,equal opportunities,welfare state, strengthening oftrade unions and opposition toprivatization of public sectors such ashealthcare andeducation.[26]
The party supports repealing theNation State Bill, aBasic Law that enshrines Israel's status as a Jewish state, on the grounds that it is discriminatory towardsnon-Jews.[26][28]
| Leader | Took office | Left office | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
_(3x4_cropped).jpg) | Yair Golan | 12 July 2024 | Incumbent | |
| Knesset | Members | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| 25th (2024–present) | Merav Michaeli,Naama Lazimi,Gilad Kariv,Efrat Rayten[a] | 4 / 120 |
Reznik envisions The Democrats as a social democratic party that will champion both social issues and security concerns while promoting peace.
Media related toThe Democrats (Israel) at Wikimedia Commons
