Independence (Israeli political party)
Encyclopedia
Independence is a recently-established political party in Israel. It was launched by Defense Minister Ehud Barak
on 17 January 2011 after he and four other Labour Party MKs announced their secession from the caucus. In the words of the announcement, the faction aims to be "centrist, Zionist, and democratic" and to establish itself as a separate political party.
's coalition due to the stalling of a peace process, or force Labour's then-chairman Barak to face the consequences within his own party. Splitting the Labour Party enabled Barak to keep a faction of Labour MKs loyal to him within Netanyahu's coalition, preventing the departure of all 13 Labour MKs from the coalition. As of 17 January 2011, the coalition has the support of 66 out of 120 MKs, as compared to 74 before that. Since Labour was often an unreliable coalition partner in Knesset voting, the reduced number of MKs does not increase the risk of a no-confidence vote. Netanyahu was singled out by analysts as the biggest winner from the split, and was reported to have been involved in the behind-the-scenes making of the political deal. Barak said that he was tired of infighting within Labour as he accused the rest of the Labour of "moving too far to the dovish end of the political spectrum." The more leftist faction was also wary of Barak's closeness to the Prime Minister Netanyahu. Daniel Ben-Simon left the Labour party in protest against Barak's decision to stay with the government.
MK Einat Wilf mentioned in the press conference: "Not all is our fault, some of it is the Palestinians' fault", referring to the argument leading up to the departure of Independence from the Labour Party. Wilf also said that the party could not stay united because one faction was moving towards the "far left of Israeli politics," and the other side believed the current government was an effective partnership. However, the remaining members of Labour condemned the move. Eitan Cabel said it would "destroy the party,” whilst Shelly Yachimovich called it "a corrupt and opportunistic move, designed to save Barak's seat in the government. He has brought a catastrophe upon Labor." Daniel Ben-Simon had stated prior to the split that he would become an independent MK because of Labour's continued position in the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
.
Avishai Braverman
, Minister of Minorities, and Isaac Herzog, Minister of Social Affairs, also intended to resign following the split.
In a move to avoid the months of bureaucracy involved in registering a new party, Barak negotiated a takeover of the Third Way
with its leader Avigdor Kahalani
. The Third Way had held seats in the Knesset between 1996 and 1999, and although had effectively ceased functioning after losing them in the 1999 elections, it had remained a registered party. The Knesset Committee approved the request of Independence to take over the Third Way party, a decision needed for it to receive funding from the state.
The founding conference of the party was held in May 2011 with eighty members in attendance. The conference approved the party's statute and the appointment of Barak as chairman.
, Vilnai was given the new post of Minister for the Home Front, Noked became Minister of Agriculture
and Simhon became Minister of Industry, Trade and Labour
and Minister of Minorities.
members;
Ehud Barak
Ehud Barak is an Israeli politician who served as Prime Minister from 1999 until 2001. He was leader of the Labor Party until January 2011 and holds the posts of Minister of Defense and Deputy Prime Minister in Binyamin Netanyahu's government....
on 17 January 2011 after he and four other Labour Party MKs announced their secession from the caucus. In the words of the announcement, the faction aims to be "centrist, Zionist, and democratic" and to establish itself as a separate political party.
History
The secession was seen as a pre-emptive move, before other Labor MKs act on their ultimatum to either let Labor leave Benjamin NetanyahuBenjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is the current Prime Minister of Israel. He serves also as the Chairman of the Likud Party, as a Knesset member, as the Health Minister of Israel, as the Pensioner Affairs Minister of Israel and as the Economic Strategy Minister of Israel.Netanyahu is the first and, to...
's coalition due to the stalling of a peace process, or force Labour's then-chairman Barak to face the consequences within his own party. Splitting the Labour Party enabled Barak to keep a faction of Labour MKs loyal to him within Netanyahu's coalition, preventing the departure of all 13 Labour MKs from the coalition. As of 17 January 2011, the coalition has the support of 66 out of 120 MKs, as compared to 74 before that. Since Labour was often an unreliable coalition partner in Knesset voting, the reduced number of MKs does not increase the risk of a no-confidence vote. Netanyahu was singled out by analysts as the biggest winner from the split, and was reported to have been involved in the behind-the-scenes making of the political deal. Barak said that he was tired of infighting within Labour as he accused the rest of the Labour of "moving too far to the dovish end of the political spectrum." The more leftist faction was also wary of Barak's closeness to the Prime Minister Netanyahu. Daniel Ben-Simon left the Labour party in protest against Barak's decision to stay with the government.
MK Einat Wilf mentioned in the press conference: "Not all is our fault, some of it is the Palestinians' fault", referring to the argument leading up to the departure of Independence from the Labour Party. Wilf also said that the party could not stay united because one faction was moving towards the "far left of Israeli politics," and the other side believed the current government was an effective partnership. However, the remaining members of Labour condemned the move. Eitan Cabel said it would "destroy the party,” whilst Shelly Yachimovich called it "a corrupt and opportunistic move, designed to save Barak's seat in the government. He has brought a catastrophe upon Labor." Daniel Ben-Simon had stated prior to the split that he would become an independent MK because of Labour's continued position in the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is the current Prime Minister of Israel. He serves also as the Chairman of the Likud Party, as a Knesset member, as the Health Minister of Israel, as the Pensioner Affairs Minister of Israel and as the Economic Strategy Minister of Israel.Netanyahu is the first and, to...
.
Avishai Braverman
Avishai Braverman
Avishay Braverman is an Israeli economist and politician. A former president of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, he is currently a member of the Knesset for the Labor Party. Between 2009 and 2011 he served as Minister of Minorities.-Biography:...
, Minister of Minorities, and Isaac Herzog, Minister of Social Affairs, also intended to resign following the split.
In a move to avoid the months of bureaucracy involved in registering a new party, Barak negotiated a takeover of the Third Way
Third Way (Israel)
The Third Way was a political party in Israel in the 1990s.- Background :The party was formed on 7 March 1996 towards the end of the thirteenth Knesset's term when two MKs, Avigdor Kahalani and Emanuel Zisman, broke away from the Labour Party...
with its leader Avigdor Kahalani
Avigdor Kahalani
Brigadier-General Avigdor Kahalani is a former Israeli soldier and politician.-Background:Kahalani was born in Ness Ziona during the Mandate era. He studied at Tel Aviv University, gaining a B.A. in History, before going on to Haifa University, where he studied for an M.A. in Political Science...
. The Third Way had held seats in the Knesset between 1996 and 1999, and although had effectively ceased functioning after losing them in the 1999 elections, it had remained a registered party. The Knesset Committee approved the request of Independence to take over the Third Way party, a decision needed for it to receive funding from the state.
The founding conference of the party was held in May 2011 with eighty members in attendance. The conference approved the party's statute and the appointment of Barak as chairman.
Government representation
A day after the party's formation, four of its five Knesset members were given ministerial positions; Barak remained Minister of DefenceMinistry of Defense (Israel)
The Ministry of Defence of the government of Israel, is the governmental department responsible for defending the State of Israel from internal and external military threats...
, Vilnai was given the new post of Minister for the Home Front, Noked became Minister of Agriculture
Agriculture Minister of Israel
The Agriculture Minister of Israel is the political head of the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture and a relatively minor position in the Israeli cabinet. Since 1992 the full title of the position has been the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development , the Development Ministry having been...
and Simhon became Minister of Industry, Trade and Labour
Industry, Trade and Labour Minister of Israel
The Industry, Trade and Labour Minister of Israel is the political head of the Israeli Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labour and a position in the Israeli cabinet....
and Minister of Minorities.
Knesset members
The party currently has five KnessetKnesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
members;
- Ehud BarakEhud BarakEhud Barak is an Israeli politician who served as Prime Minister from 1999 until 2001. He was leader of the Labor Party until January 2011 and holds the posts of Minister of Defense and Deputy Prime Minister in Binyamin Netanyahu's government....
- Matan VilnaiMatan VilnaiMatan Vilnai is an Israeli politician and a former Major General in the Israel Defense Forces . He is currently Minister for Home Front Defense and a member of the Knesset for Independence.-Biography:...
- Shalom SimhonShalom SimhonShalom Simhon is an Israeli politician and member of the Knesset for Independence. He currently serves as the Minister of Industry, Trade and Labour and Minister of Minorities in the Israeli cabinet.-Biography:...
- Orit Noked
- Einat Wilf
External links
- Official website
- Independence Knesset website