Occupied Jerusalem- After years of decline and retreat, the Zionist left returned to the forefront of political life in Israel through the “Democrats” party, which was formed from an alliance of prominent leftist forces led by the “Meretz” and “Labor” parties.
The party is led by former Israeli Deputy Chief of Staff Yair Golan and Labor Party head Merav Michaeli, along with rabbi and lawyer Gilad Kariv, in an attempt to rebuild a leftist camp capable of competing with right-wing parties in the Israeli political arena.
The party and its aspirations
The party presents itself as a representative of the liberal and secular movement, with its focus on protecting democratic state institutions, defending the independence of the judiciary, and confronting the influence of extremist religious parties within decision-making centers.
According to its statements, it also adopts positions opposing settler violence and extremist settler groups, and calls for strengthening the values of equality and civil liberties within Israeli society and a political settlement under the two-state solution.
Analysts believe that the party may constitute an influential figure in any future political alliance that seeks to overthrow Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, especially if it succeeds in attracting the votes of the liberal and leftist camp and regaining part of its popular base that it lost over the past years.
Although the chances of the left returning to leadership of the political scene are still limited in light of the rise of the right, the emergence of the “Democrats” party reflects a new attempt to revive the political project of the Zionist left and restore its presence within the Knesset and in the Israeli public debate.
The new face of the party… a rabbi
Member of the Knesset, Rabbi Gilad Kariv, is considered one of the most prominent figures in the liberal Zionist left movement in Israel, and he is the first non-Orthodox rabbi to enter the Knesset. He currently chairs the Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Committee, as he previously chaired the Constitution Committee, and is known for his role in civil liberties issues and legislative reforms.
Before entering parliamentary life, Kariv led the reform movement in Israel for about three decades. He was active in civil society and involved in a number of social and political initiatives. He is also considered one of the figures affiliated with the so-called “peace camp.”
In the Knesset, Kariv emerged as one of the most prominent opponents of the judicial amendments proposed by the Netanyahu government, and he participated in leading the political and popular movement against them, in addition to his activity in the Constitution and National Security committees, and his keenness to participate in anti-government protests.
Following the 2022 elections, he played a major role in pushing for the unification of the Labor and Meretz parties within a new political framework called “Democrats,” in an attempt to revive the Zionist left camp and unify its forces.
Kariv is also known for his positions calling for the resumption of the political process with the Palestinians within the framework of a regional settlement. He also criticizes settlement expansion and settler violence in the West Bank, while emphasizing the preservation of Israel’s identity as a Jewish, democratic and liberal state.
The “Democrats” alliance and Netanyahu’s challenges
In a reading of the alliances in the party arena, the Israeli political analyst Akiva Eldar, speaking to Al Jazeera Net, saw that the new alliance “Democrats”, which brings together the Labor and Meretz parties along with tens of thousands of new members, represents an attempt to rebuild the liberal Zionist left camp after years of decline.
The coalition is based on a rhetoric that raises the slogans of “Zionist, democratic, and liberal Israel,” with a focus on security, equality, and hope, in an attempt to attract voters who have lost confidence in Netanyahu’s government.
Eldar pointed out that one of the most prominent factors in the strength of the coalition is its leadership, headed by retired Major General Yair Golan, who has enjoyed a positive image inside Israel since the events of October 7, as he is seen as one of the first leaders who moved on the ground to the Gaza envelope area and contributed to rescuing civilians and participating in the confrontations.
According to Eldar, this security background gave the alliance momentum among sectors of Israelis searching for a political alternative capable of combining military experience and a liberal vision.
He added that the return of this movement to the political scene constitutes a real challenge for Netanyahu, as opinion polls give him about 10 seats in the Knesset, which may affect the right-wing camp’s ability to form the next government, even if Likud remains the largest party.
Doubts about the coalition’s ability
Eldar recalls that the failure of the Meretz Party to exceed the electoral threshold during the previous elections was one of the factors that paved the way for the formation of the current right-wing government.
However, it is believed that the rise of the coalition alone is not enough to bring about a radical shift in Israeli politics, in the absence of a unified program for the opposition parties. These parties, including the Democrats, focus mainly on overthrowing the Netanyahu government and addressing internal crises, while they do not provide a clear vision regarding the future of the conflict with the Palestinians or mechanisms for resolving it.
He added that some figures within the Zionist left, most notably Gilad Kariv, adopt positions more critical of settlement and settler violence in the West Bank, based on the conviction that the continuation of these policies harms Israel’s image and international standing.
However, Eldar emphasizes that these positions do not reflect a comprehensive shift in the opposition’s program, but rather remain part of a vision that seeks to re-present Israel as a democratic and liberal Jewish state, in accordance with the principles on which the state was founded.
Return to the left or reposition?
For his part, Antoine Shalhat, a researcher on Israeli affairs, said that talk about the return of the Zionist left to the forefront requires a lot of scrutiny, explaining that this trend has retreated from centers of influence and decision-making for many years, and is no longer a major player in Israeli politics.
He pointed out that the Zionist left historically did not adopt a settlement with the Palestinians based on the principles of justice or international legitimacy resolutions, but rather from considerations related to preserving Israel as a Jewish, Zionist and democratic state, while believing that the annexation of the West Bank and settlement expansion threaten this identity.
Shalhat confirmed to Al Jazeera Net that what is known today as the “Democrats” coalition does not represent a true return to the left in its traditional or universal sense, but rather is an extension of the remnants of the Labor and Meretz parties after years of decline.
He pointed out that the decline of this trend began since the Camp David summit in 2000, when former Prime Minister Ehud Barak adopted the saying, “There is no Palestinian partner for peace,” before the Zionist left later supported the Israeli war on Lebanon in 2006.
According to Shalhat, the new coalition seeks primarily to keep the Labor Party present in the political scene under the leadership of General Yair Golan, who comes from the military establishment, and who focuses his speech on security issues more than on the political settlement or the establishment of a Palestinian state.
He added that the coalition’s program revolves around strengthening Israel’s security and preserving it as a democratic, secular, and liberal Jewish state, without proposing a different vision in the files of national security and foreign policy.
Scenarios that support Netanyahu’s survival
Shalhat pointed out that Golan supported the current Israeli war despite his criticism of the performance of the Netanyahu government and its failure to achieve its goals, which made him gain support within the camp opposing the government, especially in light of the escalation of internal disputes regarding judicial amendments, the Haredi recruitment law, and the government’s attempts to expand its influence over the judicial and legislative branches.
In his assessment of the coalition’s electoral chances, Shalhat believed that any party that strengthens the anti-Netanyahu camp reduces its chances of remaining in power, noting that recent opinion polls give the opposition parties about 61 seats, compared to 49 seats for Netanyahu’s coalition. But he stresses that these numbers do not mean the political scene has been resolved, as the results remain dependent on developments in the war and internal conditions.
Researcher Shalhat presents several scenarios that may allow Netanyahu to remain in power, including:
- Expanding the war and declaring a state of emergency, leading to the postponement of the elections
- Restructuring his coalition by replacing some of his allies from religious parties and the far right with opposition parties
- He also does not rule out the scenario of contesting the election results if they contradict his expectations, which could open the door to a new internal political crisis.
The Democrats are an alliance of the Labor and Meretz parties to run in the Knesset elections with one list (Democrats Party on Facebook)
