Israeli Labor Party

The Israeli Labor Party is a center-left political party formed in 1968 from Labor Zionist parties. It led Israel’s government for much of the country’s early history.

Mapai: Mapai was a Labor Zionist party that dominated Israeli politics before merging into the Israeli Labor Party. Mapai was the largest predecessor party in the 1968 merger.
David Ben-Gurion: David Ben-Gurion was Israel’s founding prime minister and a leading Mapai politician. His breakaway Rafi party later joined the merger that formed Labor.
Israeli electoral system: Israel elects its 120-member Knesset through nationwide proportional representation with closed party lists. This system makes Labor’s parliamentary strength depend on its share of the national vote.
Likud: Likud is an Israeli right-wing political party founded in 1973 and a long-standing rival of Labor. Likud’s 1977 victory ended Labor’s uninterrupted dominance of national government.
Ahdut HaAvoda: Ahdut HaAvoda was a Labor Zionist party that joined Mapai and Rafi in forming the Israeli Labor Party. It contributed one of the three constituent parties.
Golda Meir: Golda Meir was Israel’s fourth prime minister and a prominent Labor Zionist leader. She led the party and government during the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
Knesset: The Knesset is Israel’s unicameral parliament, consisting of 120 members elected for four-year terms. Labor’s influence is exercised through its seats and participation in parliamentary coalitions.
Meretz: Meretz is an Israeli left-wing party associated with social democracy, civil rights, and a two-state solution. It competed with Labor for voters on the Zionist left.
Rafi: Rafi was an Israeli political party founded by David Ben-Gurion after breaking from Mapai in 1965. Its return to a Mapai-led alignment helped create the new party.
Yitzhak Rabin: Yitzhak Rabin was an Israeli military leader and prime minister who signed the Oslo Accords. His leadership brought Labor to power and made it central to the Oslo process.

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Camp David AccordsRelated: The change in government altered Israel’s negotiating leadership before the accords.