Zehut

Zehut
זהות
Leader Moshe Feiglin
Founded March 2015 (2015-03)
Split from Likud
Headquarters Tel Aviv, Israel
Ideology Nationalism
Zionism
Libertarian conservatism
Economic liberalism
One-state solution
Political position Right wing
International affiliation Zehut International
Knesset
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Website
www.zehutinternational.com

Zehut (Hebrew: זֶהוּת, lit. Identity) is an Israeli right wing and libertarian political party founded by former Deputy Speaker of the Knesset and "Zo Artzeinu" co-founder Moshe Feiglin in 2015.[1] The party advocates "the return of the country to the Jewish people and leading the State of Israel through authentic Jewish values".[2] The party's headquarters is located in Tel Aviv, Israel.[3]

History

The roots of Zehut lie in the Jewish Leadership movement within the Likud party, established in 1995 by Moshe Feiglin in order to seize the country's leadership through the ruling Likud party. In the 2013 elections, Feiglin was elected for the Likud list for the Knesset, and served as deputy speaker of the 19th Knesset.[4]

Prior to the 2012 elections, Feiglin announced his intention of competing for leadership of the Likud, but left the race after Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu took active steps to block Feiglin's advancement.[5] This led Feiglin to the conclusion that it would be impossible to affect any political changes while acting within the Likud party. In 2015, he left the Likud to form Zehut. The party was officially registered later that year.[6] [7]

Though the party, has never been listed on a poll by media outlets, internal polling shows that the party could win up to 12 mandates, Zehut polling also showed that 45% of members considered themselves traditional, and 26% considered themselves secular.[8]

Zehut International, the international wing of Zehut which focuses on an English speaking audience is led by Shmuel Sackett. Zehut International will, according to Shmuel Sackett, control 1 out of every 10 seats in the Knesset controlled by Zehut.[9]

In 2017, Zehut held its first conference, which had over 2000 people show up, at Hangar 11 in Tel Aviv Port.[10] Also in 2017, Zehut held its first primaries which allowed overseas Jewish voters to vote.[11]

Platform

The party platform of Zehut consists of the following ideals:[12]

  • Opposition to coercion of all kinds: religious, anti-religious, economic, cultural, or educational.[13]
  • Small government and the minimization of state intervention in the life and liberty of private citizens.
  • Reforming education in Israel to follow the school voucher system.[14]
  • Reduction of housing prices through land privatization, removal of planning and building committees, and increased construction in Judea and Samaria (West Bank).
  • Gradual transition to a professional volunteer army.
  • Jewish sovereignty in all parts of the Land of Israel, and encouragement of voluntary emigration of the Arabs in Judea and Samaria. Arabs who choose to remain may do so as permanent residents after proving their loyalty to the Jewish state. The option of receiving Israeli citizenship will be given after a protracted cooling-off period and compliance with conditions to be specified.[15]
  • Gradual legalization of cannabis, based on the model employed in Colorado and other states in the US.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Feiglin Registers 'Zehut' Party". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  2. ↑ "About Zehut". www.zehutinternational.com. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  3. ↑ "HERE WeGo". HERE WeGo. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
  4. ↑ "Former Likud MK Moshe Feiglin Establishes New Political Party". jpupdates.com. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  5. ↑ "Feiglin won't appeal bump to 36th spot". ynet. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  6. ↑ "Feiglin to register new political party". Jerusalem Post.
  7. ↑ "Feiglin Establishing New Party for Next Knesset Election". Haaretz.com.
  8. ↑ "Feiglin to take advantage of Likud's weakness to promote his new party". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
  9. ↑ "'Zehut is all about leadership'". Israel National News. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
  10. ↑ "Feiglin: Return the State to the People". Israel National News. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
  11. ↑ "First ever primaries with overseas voters". Israel National News. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
  12. ↑ "Israel's Newest Political Party". Queens Jewish Link. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  13. ↑ "About Zehut". www.zehutinternational.com. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  14. ↑ Feiglin, Moshe. "Israel Needs School Vouchers". The Jewish Press. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  15. ↑ "If Moshe Feiglin were Prime Minister". voiceofisrael.com.
  16. ↑ "Likud's Moshe Feiglin: Cool on Palestinians, hot for pot". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
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