Hetz (political party)
Encyclopedia
Hetz was a secularist
political party in Israel
.
towards the end of the 16th Knesset. Avraham Poraz
, Shinui's second-in-command after Tommy Lapid was unexpectedly beaten in the race to head the party's list for the 2006 elections by Ron Levintal.
In response to the result, Poraz decided to break away from Shinui. He was joined by ten other Shinui MKs (out of a total of 15), including Lapid. They formed the Secular Faction on 26 January 2006, though on 5 February, Hemi Doron
and Eliezer Sandberg
left the new party to establish National Home
.
Poraz tried to set up Hetz as a new party in January 2006, however it was too late to register a new party for the election. He tried to form a union with Tafnit
, who rejected it. Eventually the party ran with the minor Citizen and State party, which was re-branded as Hetz for the elections. Lapid was presented as the honorary leader.
However, a combination of the split with Shinui (who also ran in the elections with Levintal as head), the founding of centrists Kadima
and Shinui's lack of progress in implementing their agenda in the previous Knesset (despite being the second largest party in the coalition, hardly any of their campaign pledges had been realised) meant that the party had lost much of its supporter base. Ultimately the party won only 10,113 votes (0.33%), far below the 2% electoral threshold. Their only consolation was beating the remains of Shinui, who received only 4,675 votes (0.16%).
Prior to the 2009 elections
it was announced that the party would be running a joint list with the Greens
, with Poraz receiving one of the top five places on the list. However, the agreement was later cancelled and Hetz did not run.
Hetz's policies mirror those of Shinui in being centrist and liberal
with a strong secular leaning. The party promised to introduce a constitution
, separate religion and state
, allow civil marriage
and repeal many of the country's arrangements that they claim strongly benefit the orthodox
population (such as large child benefit
s (many orthodox having 10 or more children), exemption from military service
and payments to yeshiva
s).
Secularism
Secularism is the principle of separation between government institutions and the persons mandated to represent the State from religious institutions and religious dignitaries...
political party in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
Background and ideology
Hetz was formed in the aftermath of the breakup of ShinuiShinui
Shinui is a Zionist, secular and anti-clerical free market liberal party and political movement in Israel. The party twice became the third largest in the Knesset, but both occasions were followed by a split and collapse; in 1977 the party won 15 seats as part of the Democratic Movement for...
towards the end of the 16th Knesset. Avraham Poraz
Avraham Poraz
Avraham Poraz is an Israeli lawyer and former politician.- Biography :Poraz was born in Bucharest, Romania in 1945 and immigrated to Israel in 1950...
, Shinui's second-in-command after Tommy Lapid was unexpectedly beaten in the race to head the party's list for the 2006 elections by Ron Levintal.
In response to the result, Poraz decided to break away from Shinui. He was joined by ten other Shinui MKs (out of a total of 15), including Lapid. They formed the Secular Faction on 26 January 2006, though on 5 February, Hemi Doron
Hemi Doron
Hemi Doron is an Israeli politician who served as a member of the Knesset for Shinui, the Secular Faction and National Home between 2003 and 2006, and is currently mayor of Tayibe.-Biography:...
and Eliezer Sandberg
Eliezer Sandberg
Eliezer Sandberg is a former Israeli politician who served as a government minister between 2003 and 2004.-Biography:Born in Haifa, Sandberg studied law at Tel Aviv University, gaining an LLB. He joined the Tzomet party, and became a member of its secretariat in 1988. He also served as the party's...
left the new party to establish National Home
National Home
National Home was a short-lived political faction in Israel during 2006.-Background:National Home was formed on 5 February 2006 when two MKs, Hemi Doron and Eliezer Sandberg broke away from the Secular Faction...
.
Poraz tried to set up Hetz as a new party in January 2006, however it was too late to register a new party for the election. He tried to form a union with Tafnit
Tafnit
Tafnit was an Israeli political party and a social movement which was established by the Aluf in reserve Uzi Dayan. The party participated in the 2006 elections, although did not gain any seats.-History:Tafnit was established as a social movement...
, who rejected it. Eventually the party ran with the minor Citizen and State party, which was re-branded as Hetz for the elections. Lapid was presented as the honorary leader.
However, a combination of the split with Shinui (who also ran in the elections with Levintal as head), the founding of centrists Kadima
Kadima
Kadima is a centrist and liberal political party in Israel. It was established on 24 November 2005 by moderates from Likud largely to support the issue of Ariel Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan, and was soon joined by like-minded Labor politicians...
and Shinui's lack of progress in implementing their agenda in the previous Knesset (despite being the second largest party in the coalition, hardly any of their campaign pledges had been realised) meant that the party had lost much of its supporter base. Ultimately the party won only 10,113 votes (0.33%), far below the 2% electoral threshold. Their only consolation was beating the remains of Shinui, who received only 4,675 votes (0.16%).
Prior to the 2009 elections
Israeli legislative election, 2009
Elections for the 18th Knesset were held in Israel on 10 February 2009. These elections became necessary due to the resignation of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as leader of the Kadima party, and the failure of his successor, Tzipi Livni, to form a coalition government...
it was announced that the party would be running a joint list with the Greens
The Greens (Israel)
The Greens is a minor political party in Israel currently headed by Pe'er Visner. Although the party is currently not represented in the Knesset, it does hold seats in 22 municipalities across Israel.-History:...
, with Poraz receiving one of the top five places on the list. However, the agreement was later cancelled and Hetz did not run.
Hetz's policies mirror those of Shinui in being centrist and liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
with a strong secular leaning. The party promised to introduce a constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
, separate religion and state
Separation of church and state
The concept of the separation of church and state refers to the distance in the relationship between organized religion and the nation state....
, allow civil marriage
Civil marriage
Civil marriage is marriage performed by a government official and not a religious organization.-History:Every country maintaining a population registry of its residents keeps track of marital status, and most countries believe that it is their responsibility to register married couples. Most...
and repeal many of the country's arrangements that they claim strongly benefit the orthodox
Haredi Judaism
Haredi or Charedi/Chareidi Judaism is the most conservative form of Orthodox Judaism, often referred to as ultra-Orthodox. A follower of Haredi Judaism is called a Haredi ....
population (such as large child benefit
Child benefit
Child benefit is a social security payment disbursed to the parents or guardians of children. Child benefit is means-tested in some countries.-Australia:...
s (many orthodox having 10 or more children), exemption from military service
Military service
Military service, in its simplest sense, is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, whether as a chosen job or as a result of an involuntary draft . Some nations require a specific amount of military service from every citizen...
and payments to yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
s).
External links
- Secular Faction Knesset website