From Paramilitary Roots to Political Powerhouse: The Evolution of Israel’s Likud Party
The origins of Israel’s Likud Party, a dominant force in Israeli politics, are deeply intertwined with the country’s tumultuous early history, particularly its paramilitary activities. The Likud’s roots can be traced back to the Irgun (or Etzel), a Zionist militant group active from 1931 to 1948. The Irgun, led by Ze’ev Jabotinsky and later Menachem Begin, played a controversial role in the fight against the British Mandate and the Arab population in Palestine before the establishment of Israel. It was known for its involvement in several violent acts, including the bombing of the King David Hotel in 1946 and the Deir Yassin massacre in 1948. The Irgun’s ideology was deeply influenced by Revisionist Zionism, a movement that advocated for a Jewish state on both sides of the Jordan River and rejected any compromise with Arab populations.
After the creation of Israel in 1948, the Irgun was dissolved, and many of its members joined the newly formed Herut Party, led by Begin. Herut represented a right-wing, nationalist position in Israeli politics and was often criticized for its extremist views. Albert Einstein, for instance, compared Herut to “Nazi and Fascist parties” in a letter to The New York Times in 1948. Herut strongly advocated for a Greater Israel, including territories like the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and opposed negotiations with Arab states or Palestinians.
In 1973, Herut merged with several other right-wing parties to form the Likud Party. The formation of Likud was a strategic move to challenge the then-dominant Labor Party. Under Begin’s leadership, the Likud won the 1977 elections, marking a significant shift in Israeli politics. Begin, as prime minister, introduced major changes in domestic and foreign policies, including signing the peace treaty with Egypt in 1979 and initiating the controversial invasion of Lebanon in 1982. His policies also accelerated settlement expansion in the occupied territories, a move that has had lasting implications on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Likud Party has since remained a major political force in Israel, producing several influential leaders, including Ariel Sharon, Ehud Olmert, and Benjamin Netanyahu. The party has experienced ideological shifts and internal divisions, especially regarding the peace process with Palestinians and the status of occupied territories. Some leaders, like Sharon, even broke away to form new centrist parties, highlighting the evolving political landscape within Likud and Israel more broadly.
The paramilitary origins of Likud have significantly shaped its identity, ideology, and policy approaches. The party carries the legacy of the Irgun’s radical and militant pursuit of national and religious goals. Likud has also maintained the vision of Revisionist Zionism, advocating for a Greater Israel and resisting compromise or coexistence with Arab neighbors. This stance has influenced Israeli society and politics, shifting public opinion and discourse to the right, and complicating efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian and broader Arab-Israeli conflicts.
