Organization for Democratic Action
Encyclopedia
The Organisation for Democratic Action is a political party in Israel
, where it is commonly known by the acronym, Da'am (Arabic
: دعم, Hebrew
: דע"ם).
In Hebrew, the acronym Da'am is meaningless, and in order to give an understanding of the party's leanings, the full name is extended to Da'am Workers Party (Hebrew: דע"ם - מפלגת פועלים, Da'am - Mifleget Poalim).
The party was founded in Haifa
in 1995 as a breakaway from Maki, the Communist Party of Israel. Although the party is theoretically non-ethnic, in reality it is largely an Israeli Arab party. Of the first fourteen candidates on its list for the 2006 election
there were only three Jews compared to eleven Israeli Arabs.
As a result of its background, it is strongly left-wing, supports workers' rights (particularly those of Israeli Arabs), disapproves of discrimination, and has an internationalist
worldview. The party supports the right of the Palestinian people
to found an indepdendent state based on the 1967 borders
and is against Israel unilateralism
and occupation of the Palestinian territories
. It also opposes political Islam
Members of the party were involved in the establishment of the Workers Advice Center (Ma'an), "an initiative for building an independent labor association". Ma'an offers support to unemployed and unorganised (non-Union
) workers.
It is the only political party in Israel headed by an Israeli Arab woman, Asma Agbarieh
.
The party produces the monthly English-language magazine Challenge http://www.challenge-mag.com/, as well as the Arabic al Sabar http://www.alsabar-mag.com/ and the Hebrew quarterly Etgar http://www.etgar.info/.
The 2003 elections saw a fall in support to just 1,925 votes, though their percentage (0.06%) remained roughly the same due to a reduced turnout. Nevertheless, they still did not pass the threshold.
In the 2006 elections the party more than doubled its support, winning 3,692 votes (0.11%). However, with the raising of the threshold to 2%, they were even further away from obtaining even a single seat in the Knesset
.
In the 2009 elections
they again failed to pass the threshold and did not receive any seats.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, where it is commonly known by the acronym, Da'am (Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
: دعم, Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
: דע"ם).
Name
The party has slightly different names in Arabic and Hebrew. As it was founded as a largely Israeli Arab organisation, its name originates from Arabic, and is an Arabic acronym for the translation of the English name (Arabic: يمقراطي عمل منظمة, Demokrat Amal Menzema).In Hebrew, the acronym Da'am is meaningless, and in order to give an understanding of the party's leanings, the full name is extended to Da'am Workers Party (Hebrew: דע"ם - מפלגת פועלים, Da'am - Mifleget Poalim).
Background and ideology
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
in 1995 as a breakaway from Maki, the Communist Party of Israel. Although the party is theoretically non-ethnic, in reality it is largely an Israeli Arab party. Of the first fourteen candidates on its list for the 2006 election
Israel legislative election, 2006
Elections for the 17th Knesset were held in Israel on 28 March 2006. The voting resulted in a plurality of seats for the then-new Kadima party, followed by the Labour Party, and a major loss for the Likud party....
there were only three Jews compared to eleven Israeli Arabs.
As a result of its background, it is strongly left-wing, supports workers' rights (particularly those of Israeli Arabs), disapproves of discrimination, and has an internationalist
Internationalism (politics)
Internationalism is a political movement which advocates a greater economic and political cooperation among nations for the theoretical benefit of all...
worldview. The party supports the right of the Palestinian people
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
to found an indepdendent state based on the 1967 borders
Green Line (Israel)
Green Line refers to the demarcation lines set out in the 1949 Armistice Agreements between Israel and its neighbours after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War...
and is against Israel unilateralism
Unilateralism
Unilateralism is any doctrine or agenda that supports one-sided action. Such action may be in disregard for other parties, or as an expression of a commitment toward a direction which other parties may find agreeable...
and occupation of the Palestinian territories
Palestinian territories
The Palestinian territories comprise the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988, the region is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries as the State of Palestine or simply Palestine, although this status is not recognized by the...
. It also opposes political Islam
Members of the party were involved in the establishment of the Workers Advice Center (Ma'an), "an initiative for building an independent labor association". Ma'an offers support to unemployed and unorganised (non-Union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
) workers.
It is the only political party in Israel headed by an Israeli Arab woman, Asma Agbarieh
Asma Agbarieh
Asma Agbarieh-Zahalka is an Israeli Arab journalist and political activist who heads the Organization for Democratic Action party. She is the only Israeli Arab woman to head a political party.-Biography:...
.
The party produces the monthly English-language magazine Challenge http://www.challenge-mag.com/, as well as the Arabic al Sabar http://www.alsabar-mag.com/ and the Hebrew quarterly Etgar http://www.etgar.info/.
Elections
In the 1999 elections the party won only 2,151 votes (0.06%), well below the electoral threshold of 1.5%.The 2003 elections saw a fall in support to just 1,925 votes, though their percentage (0.06%) remained roughly the same due to a reduced turnout. Nevertheless, they still did not pass the threshold.
In the 2006 elections the party more than doubled its support, winning 3,692 votes (0.11%). However, with the raising of the threshold to 2%, they were even further away from obtaining even a single seat in the Knesset
Knesset
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...
.
In 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...
they again failed to pass the threshold and did not receive any seats.