2025-07-30 14:44 <br/> Tags: #party #Israel ![[image-1 2.png|274x183]] # Gahal Alliance (1965-1973) - Gahal was an Israeli political alliance formed by the merger the centrist Liberal Party and the far right [[Herut]] party in 1965. - The right wing [[Revisionist Zionism|Revisionist]] party [[Herut]] led by [[Menachem Begin]] was the dominant party in the alliance. Herut was the political continuation of the pre-state [[Irgun and Lehi Zionist Paramilitary Organizations]]. - Herut was hawkish on Israeli foreign policy. This means they accepted no peace treaties with the Arab countries and rejected any formation of a Palestinian state. They believed in Jewish-Israeli territorial maximalism also known as [[Greater Israel]]. They promoted Israeli settler activity in the occupied territories after the [[1967 Six Day War]]. - The Liberal Party was more dovish on these matters however, as part of the alliance [[Herut]] was given the domain of foreign policy. - The Liberal Party was aligned with Herut in opposition to Mapai (left wing socialist party which had ruled Israel since 48') in regards to economic policy. The alliance promoted free markets and private enterprise contrary to the heavy government controlled economics which had been in place in Israel since WWI. - The Liberal Party was largely in control of Gahal's economic domain. - During the [[1967 Six Day War]] Gahal was invited to [[Levi Eshkol]]'s unity government. - This was the first time the Revisionist right in Israel was given national legitimacy. - The [[1967 Six Day War]] was of great benefit to Gahal and particularly [[Herut]] and the [[Revisionist Zionism|Revisionists]]. - The war brought the idea of Israeli territorial expansion and settler activity to the forefront of Israeli politics. Both issues has long been core Revisionist tenets. - In 1970 Gahal left the Israeli government in protest of the United States [[Rogers Plan]]. - The Rogers Plan was an attempt by the Nixon administration to resolve the Arab-Israeli war of attrition which followed the 6 Days War. - The plan involved Israel giving back the territories it took in 1967 followed by Arab recognition of Israel. - This commonly known as "land for peace." Opposition to the land for peace idea is core to Revisionism and its parties. (Herut, Gahal, Likud etc.). #### Likud is Formed - In 1973 Gahal merged with a number of smaller right wing parties to form [[Likud]]. - Gahal maintained its independence within Likud until 1988 when it was fully absorbed by Likud. - For all practical purposed Gahal became Likud from the beginning with its maintained independence as a symbolic measure. - Gahal is to Likud what Herut was to Gahal. - Likud upended the Israeli political order with its 1977 victory. - [[Menachem Begin]] became Prime Minister after over 50 years of Revisionist activity. - [[Yitzhak Shamir]], former Lehi leader, succeeded Begin as PM in 1983. - The right has dominated Israeli politics ever since and Likud has dominated the Israeli right. ![[image 3.png|508x338]] *Begin and Shamir 1979* #### References - Wikipedia. s.v. “Gahal.” _Wikipedia_. Accessed July 30, 2025. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gahal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gahal). - Wikipedia. s.v. “Menachem Begin.” _Wikipedia_. Accessed July 30, 2025. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menachem_Begin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menachem_Begin). - Wikipedia, s.v. “Herut,” _Wikipedia_, accessed July 30, 2025, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herut). - Jewish Virtual Library. “Herut Movement.” _Jewish Virtual Library_. Accessed July 30, 2025. [https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/herut-movement](https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/herut-movement).