The Likud Party

by Rebecca Weiner

The Likud (Union) was formed by the joining together of Free Center, Laam and Gahal in preparation for the 1973 elections, the Likud has become one of Israel’s major conservative parties. Since 1973, the Likud has either been the ruling party in the Knesset or the leading opposition party. Likud’s leaders Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Shamir and Benjamin Netanyahu have all served as prime minister. In the 1984 election, Likud joined with Labor to form a national unity government, both Shamir and Shimon Peres served as prime minister. Herut and the Liberal party merged and unified with Likud in 1988. Likud was last in power from 1996 until 1999 when Netanyahu lost to Ehud Barak. Likud’s platform includes a peace treaty based on "peace for peace," maintaining the status quo in religion/state issues and reforms in public health, education and welfare.

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Lazarus, Neil. "Likud." Neil Lazarus educational services.
"Likud." Encyclopedia of the Orient.
 "Political Parties and Organizations." Appendix B
‘"Political Parties and Platforms." Chapter Two. Democracy In Action.