Israel Labor Party-
A social-democratic party established in 1968 following a union of
Mapai
and
Ahdut Ha'avoda
-Poalei Tziyon,
and Rafi. The party officially supports of social pluralism and equality, and since the 1990's, it supports a a free
market "with a soul" economic policy. Foreign policy tends to be left of center. Following the
6-day war
Labor supported establishment of settlements in the Jordan valley, outside Hebron and in some other parts of the
occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. Beginning in 1992, under the leadership of
Yitzhak Rabin, it
supported negotiated peace with the Palestinians. Until the elections for the Thirteenth Knesset, the Labor Party
within the framework of the
Alignment Party.
In the elections for the Fourteenth Knesset it ran under its own name, in the elections to the Fifteenth Knesset within
the framework of One Israel (2), and in the elections to the Sixteenth Knesset within the framework of Labor-Meimad.
Since its establishment the Labor Party had lost over than half of its
Knesset
representation prior to the elections of 2006. The chairmen of the party since its establishment were
Levi Eshkol
(1968-69),
Golda Meir
(1969-74),
Yitzhak Rabin
(1974-77; 1992-1995),
Shimon Peres (1977-92;
1995-97; 2003-2005),
Ehud Barak
(1997-2001), Binyamin Ben-Eliezer (2001-2), Amram Miznah (2002-3). Until the mid 1990s the party headed the
Histadrut,
and its leader was Prime Minister in 1968-77; 1984-86; 1992-96; and 1999-2001. In November 2005, the Labor party elected
Amir Peretz as its chairman.
Recent Platform
(not authoritative)
As approved at the 6th Party Congress, May 1997
Introduction
The Israel Labour Party will strive to create a new reality in which there will be no more terrorism and war, and in
which tremendous financial resources will no longer be committed to the arms race. Israel's peace and security policy
will be aimed toward ending the Israeli-Arab conflict. The regional policy will be based on pursuing economic
cooperation in various fields; mutual ties in the areas of culture, science and technology; joint development of the
standard of living and welfare; and fulfilling the promise of a better future with greater opportunities for the young
generation in our region. In order to achieve this goal, Israel will continue to conduct peace negotiations, while at
the same time, combating the forces of fundamentalism and terrorism that aim to destroy this process. This new reality
will strengthen Israel's security and standing and will encourage economic prosperity and the welfare of the state.
Israel's Security
The Government of Israel is responsible for the personal and general security of the citizens of the State of Israel.
Israel's peace policy is based on the reconciliation between both peoples and their readiness to live in respect of
mutual rights to self-determination and statehood, and on the superior deterrent capability and strength of the IDF.
A stable peace is, in and of itself, an important security element for the strength of the State. This stability is
based on, among other things, defensible borders and vital security arrangements which the Israel Labour Party sees as
essential elements for all future security arrangements.
The reconciliation of the people of the region and their readiness to live in respect of the rights to
self-determination are also important elements for the future nature of the region.
Israel will continue to develop its qualitative advantage over those of Arab armies, and will place a high priority on
independent research and development in the area of defense and on expanding the manufacture of innovative and
sophisticated weaponry and material. Combating terror and subversion, will be a fundamental component of Israel's peace
and security policy. The fight against terrorism requires a firm stand, sophistication, determination, patience,
regional and international mobilization - the foundations of which have already been laid by the previous Labour
Government.
Israel will struggle to prevent nations whose ideologies are based on hatred and ruin, first and foremost, the nations
of Iran and Iraq, from obtaining weapons of mass destruction. It will work within the regional and international
framework to prevent the lethal combination of fundamentalist ideology and unconventional weapons.
Final Status Agreement with the Palestinians
The negotiations will be based on the Oslo Accords, with guarantees for the State of Israel to exist in peace and
security within defensible borders, and with precise definitions of the elements for the normalization of relations
between Israel and its neighbors.
1. Jerusalem
United Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, under Israeli sovereignty. The Palestinian residents of the city will enjoy
municipal rights in the quarters in which they reside, and special arrangements will be established for the sites sacred
to Christianity and Islam.
2. Self-Determination for the Palestinians
The Labour Party recognizes the Palestinians' right to self-determination, and does not rule out in this connection the
establishment of a Palestinian state with limited sovereignty.
3. Security
The Jordan river will be Israel's eastern security border and there will be no other army stationed to the west of it.
4. Borders and Settlements
Israel extends its sovereignty over areas that are major Jewish settlement blocs.
5. The Right of Return
Israel does not recognize the right of return of Palestinians to areas under Israeli sovereignty. Israel will negotiate
with the Palestinians on allowing the return to areas under Palestinian control.
Israeli Relations with Syria
The Israel Labour Party will continue to pursue a peace agreement with Syria. Within the framework of the peace
agreement, Israel will be open to compromise on the basis of land for peace and security, U.N. Security Council
Resolutions 242 and 338, and the guidelines of the Madrid Conference.
Security Arrangements
Within the framework of a peace agreement, Israel demands strict and diverse security arrangements. Israel insists that
a peace agreement with Syria will include Syria's obligation to prevent hostile activities against Israel, emanating
from its soil and areas under its control.
Type of Agreement and its Implementation
The agreement will be implemented gradually and will be accompanied by confidence building measures. Within the
framework of the peace agreement, Israel insists on the full normalization of relations considered standard among
neighboring countries living in peace.
The Question of Water
An agreement of the source of water, its protection, development and use will be an integral part of the peace
agreement.
POWs and MIAs
In any peace agreement with Syria, Israel will demand that the Syrian government work toward the return of Israel's POWs
and provide any and all information on the fate of its MIAs. Israel will also insist that Syria enable the return of the
remains of Eli Cohen.
Settlements
Existing settlements on the Golan will be strengthened.
Israel - Lebanese Relations
Israel is prepared to reach a peace agreement with an independent and sovereign Lebanon. Israel has no territorial
designs on Lebanon and recognizes that the international border serves as the border for peace between the two
countries.
The peace agreement, which will include diplomatic ties and full normalization of relations, will protect the security
interests of the State of Israel and its citizens in the north through a variety of security arrangements that will
ensure, among other things, the complete cessation of terrorism and the prevention of its renewal.
Within the framework of either a comprehensive settlement or a partial agreement, the Israel Labour Party will strive to
create conditions that will enable the IDF to withdraw from Lebanon in return for a guarantee of peace and well-being
for the residents of northern Israel.
In any agreement, either full or partial, there will be guarantees for the security and safety of the residents of the
security zone in southern Lebanon and the forces of the South Lebanese Army.
Synonyms and alternate spellings:
Further Information:
Labor Zionism
Political Parties, Israel
Hebrew/Arabic pronunciation and transliteration conventions:
'H - ('het) a guttural sound
made deep in the throat. To Western ears it may sound like the "ch" in loch. In Arabic there are several letters that
have similar sounds. Examples: 'hanukah, 'hamas, 'haredi. Formerly, this sound was often represented by ch,
especially in German transliterations of Hebrew. Thus, 'hanukah is often rendered as Chanuka for example.
ch - (chaf) a sound like "ch"
in loch or the Russian Kh as in Khruschev or German Ach, made by putting the tongue against
the roof of the mouth. In Hebrew, a chaf can never occur at the beginning of a word. At the beginning of a word, it has a dot in it and is pronounced "Kaf."
u - usually between oo as in spoon
and u as in put.
a- sounded like a in arm
ah- used to represent an a sound made by
the letter hey at the end of a word. It is the same sound as a. Haganah and Hagana are alternative
acceptable transliterations.
'a-notation used for Hebrew and Arabic
ayin, a guttural ah sound.
o - close to the French o as in homme.
th - (taf without a dot) - Th was
formerly used to transliterate the Hebrew taf sound for taf without a dot. However in modern Hebrew there
is no detectable difference in standard pronunciation of taf with or without a dot, and therefore Histadruth and
Histadrut, Rehovoth and Rehovot are all acceptable.
q- (quf) - In transliteration of
Hebrew and Arabic, it is best to consistently use the letter q for the quf, to avoid confusion with similar sounding
words that might be spelled with a kaf, which should be transliterated as K. Thus, Hatiqva is preferable to Hatikva for
example.
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