National camp explained

In Israeli politics, the national camp (Hebrew: המחנה הלאומי) or right-wing bloc is an informal coalition of nationalist and right-wing, religious conservative political parties that since 1977 has frequently co-operated to form governments.[1]

The coalition is led by Likud, and includes parties to its political right as well as religious parties. Generally, the two Haredi parties (Shas and the United Torah Judaism alliance) align with Likud. In the past, the coalition has included the National Religious Party, the National Union, Gesher, Tkuma, The Jewish Home, the New Right, Yisrael Beiteinu (until late 2019) and Zehut.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Right-wing bloc

Following the September 2019 Israeli legislative election, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formed a "right-wing bloc" for the purposes of coalition negotiations, consisting of Likud, Shas, United Torah Judaism and Yamina, that would support Netanyahu as Prime Minister.[8] In February 2021, Yamina left the bloc to pursue negotiations with opposition parties, and the Religious Zionist Party, which had split from Yamina, also declined to sign on, despite supporting Netanyahu as Prime Minister.[9] However, the Religious Zionist Party later rejoined the bloc and participated in bloc meetings.[10]

Following the fall of the Netanyahu government in June 2021, the four parties of the right-wing bloc went into the opposition, but continued to hold regular joint meetings in Netanyahu's office.[11] [12]

The bloc returned to power under Netanyahu's leadership following the 2022 Israeli legislative election, forming the thirty-seventh government of Israel.[13]

Composition

Current

NameYearsPositionIdeologyLeaderMKs
Likud1977–presentCentre-right to right-wingConservatismBenjamin Netanyahu
Shas1984–presentRight-wingReligious conservatism
(Sephardi-Haredi)
Aryeh Deri
United Torah Judaism1992–presentRight-wingReligious conservatism
(Ashkenazi-Haredi)
Yitzhak Goldknopf
Mafdal – Religious Zionism2023–presentRight-wing to Far-rightReligious Zionism
Ultranationalism
Bezalel Smotrich
Otzma Yehudit2013–presentFar-rightKahanismItamar Ben-Gvir
Noam2019–presentFar-rightReligious Zionism
Social conservatism
Avi Maoz

Right-wing parties not in the bloc

NameYearsPositionIdeologyLeaderMKs
Yisrael Beiteinu1999–2019Centre-right to right-wingNational liberalismAvigdor Lieberman
style=background: New HopeCentre-right to right-wingConservatism
National liberalism
Gideon Sa'ar

In January 2022, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett suggested he was planning to form a "new national camp" with Yamina, Yisrael Beiteinu and New Hope, excluding Likud.[14] The three parties parted their ways during the collapse of 36th Cabinet of Israel.

In August 2024, Gideon Sa'ar, the leader of New Hope, called for the unification of what he described as the "liberal right-wing camp", which would also include Yisrael Beiteinu and Bennett's New Right.[15]

The national camp in the Knesset

Knesset! style="width:70px"
YearsLeaderMKs
11949–1951Menachem Begin
21951–1955Peretz Bernstein
31955–1959Menachem Begin
41959–1961Menachem Begin
51961–1965Menachem Begin
61965–1969Menachem Begin
71969–1974Menachem Begin
81974–1977Menachem Begin
Knesset! style="width:70px"
YearsLeaderMKs
91977–1981Menachem Begin
101981–1984Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Shamir
111984–1988Yitzhak Shamir
121988–1992Yitzhak Shamir
131992–1996Yitzhak Shamir, Benjamin Netanyahu
141996–1999Benjamin Netanyahu
151999–2003Benjamin Netanyahu, Ariel Sharon
162003–2006Ariel Sharon
172006–2009Benjamin Netanyahu
182009–2013Benjamin Netanyahu
192013–2015Benjamin Netanyahu
202015–2019Benjamin Netanyahu
212019–2019Benjamin Netanyahu
222019–2020Benjamin Netanyahu
232020–2021Benjamin Netanyahu
242021–2022Benjamin Netanyahu
252022–presentBenjamin Netanyahu

Notes and References

  1. Book: Shamir, Michal. Taylor & Francis. The Elections in Israel 2015. 77. 2017.
  2. Book: Shamir, Michal. Taylor & Francis. The Elections in Israel 2015. 83. 2017.
  3. Book: Orkibi, Eithan. Israel at the Polls 2013: Continuity and Change in Israeli Political Culture. Routledge. 2017.
  4. News: Arutz Sheva. Revived Labor Party To Bury Barak's Career. 14 September 2011.
  5. News: The Jewish Chronicle. 30 December 2018. Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked quit Jewish Home to set up new party.
  6. Web site: Zehut Party submits slate, will not join United Right. Jewish News Syndicate. 1 August 2019 . 1 August 2019.
  7. Web site: Israel's 35th government deal. TV7. 1 August 2019 . 1 August 2019.
  8. Web site: Netanyahu: It's either my right-wing bloc, or a dangerous Arab-backed government. .
  9. Web site: Haredi parties pledge loyalty to Netanyahu; Smotrich's Religious Zionism doesn't. .
  10. Web site: Netanyahu calls emergency meeting of right-wing bloc. 3 June 2021.
  11. News: Netanyahu: We will topple the 'fraudulent' Bennett government. Haaretz .
  12. News: Times of Israel. Despite resigning as MK in plea deal, Deri to continue leading Shas Knesset activity. 27 January 2022.
  13. Web site: Netanyahu-led right-wing bloc wins Israeli election .
  14. News: Times of Israel. Bennett said to eye 'new national camp' with coalition partners Liberman, Sa'ar. 29 January 2022.
  15. News: Jerusalem Post. Liberman, Sa'ar hold concrete merger negotiations - report. 4 August 2024.