Eretz Yisrael Shelanu Explained

Eretz Yisrael Shelanu
Leader:Shalom Dov Wolpo
Founded:11 November 2008
Position:Far-right
Ideology:Religious Zionism
Religious conservatism
Social conservatism
Ultranationalism
Affiliation1 Title:Alliance
Affiliation1:National Union (2009-2013)
Seats1 Title:Most MKs
Seats1:1 (2009–2012)
Seats2 Title:Fewest MKs
Seats2:1 (2009–2012)
Country:Israel

Eretz Yisrael Shelanu (Hebrew: ארץ ישראל שלנו||Land of Israel is Ours) is a far-right religious party in Israel.[1] [2] [3] Founded by Chabad Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpo and Baruch Marzel[4] on 11 November 2008, it seeks to prevent both the creation of a Palestinian state as well as the dismantling of Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

History

In 2008, in anticipation of the 2009 Knesset elections, Wolpe and his party merged with Baruch Marzel's Jewish National Front. The Knesset list was topped by Wolpe, Marzel, and Israeli musician Ariel Zilber. In the weeks prior to the election, the joint list agreed to run as part of the National Union list, with Michael Ben-Ari, its representative, taking the 4th spot on the alliance's list. The Union won four seats, allowing Ben-Ari to enter the Knesset.

On 27 October 2010, violence broke out at the town of Umm al-Fahm between Eretz Yisrael Shelanu marchers and Arab counter-protesters.[5]

In 2012, Ben-Ari and Aryeh Eldad of Hatikva, another member party of the National Union, announced their decision to leave the alliance and form Otzma LeYisrael.[6] Ben-Ari left Eretz Yisrael Shelanu, and formed Otzma Yehudit[7] and leading up to the 2013 Knesset elections, party leader Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpo announced his support of HaBayit HaYehudi. Subsequently, leading Haredi rabbis Ya'akov Yosef and David Meir Drukman announced cessation of support of Eretz Yisrael Shelanu.

In April 2019 Knesset elections, Rafi Levengrond - father of a murder victim in Barkan shooting terror attack Kim Levengrond-Yehezkel, used the party as a 'Shelf Party' to run his own list for the Knesset.[8] [9] In the September 2019 Knesset elections Avi Yalou used the party as a 'shelf party' to run for the Knesset with his own list called "Tsedek" ("Justice" in Hebrew).[10] [11]

Election results

ElectionLeaderVotes%Seats+/–Status
2009Shalom Dov Wolpo112,570 (#8)
3.34New
2013Shalom Dov WolpoDid not contest
2015Shalom Dov WolpoDid not contest
April 2019Rafi Levengrond701 (#27)0.02 0
September 2019Avi Yalou3,053 (#14)0.07 0

Notes and References

  1. http://www.jpost.com/Home/Article.aspx?id=125200 Moledet breaks from newly formed Bayit Hayehudi
  2. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/10/201010271037229799.html Profile: Our Land of Israel
  3. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/oct/27/israeli-marchers-clash-arab-youths Israeli police clash with Arab youths
  4. Efrat Weiss. Marzel, Rabbi Wolpo to run for Knesset. YNet News 15 December 2008
  5. http://mwcnews.net/news/middle-east/6217-our-land-of-israel.html Profile: Our Land of Israel
  6. Web site: Ben-Ari Leaves National Union, Will Run with Eldad . 12 October 2012 . Arutz 7 . 15 October 2012.
  7. News: Eldad, Ben-Ari form new party: Strong Israel. The Jerusalem Post JPost.com. 2018-03-19.
  8. News: Hezki Baruch . Running for the Knesset in memory of his murdered daughter . Israel National News . 21 February 2019 . en.
  9. News: Gideon Allon . Israeli election shifts into high gear after filing deadline expires . Israel Hayom . 22 February 2019.
  10. News: Wootliff . Raoul . 32 parties register electoral slates for September vote, down from 47 last time . The Times of Israel . 2 August 2019.
  11. News: Know Your "Enemy" . Jewish Currents . 19 August 2019.