Third Way (Israel)

For the centrist political position, see Third Way (centrism).
For the far-right party in Germany, see The III. Path.
Third Way
הדרך השלישית‎
LeaderAvigdor Kahalani
Founded1996
Dissolved2011
Split fromIsraeli Labor Party
IdeologyThird Way
Centrism
Liberalism
Liberal Zionism
Political positionCentre to centre-left
Most MKs4 (1996)
Election symbol
הד‎

The Third Way (Hebrew: הדרך השלישית, HaDerekh HaShlishit) was a political party in Israel in the 1990s.

Background

The party was formed on 7 March 1996 towards the end of the thirteenth Knesset's term when two MKs, Avigdor Kahalani and Emanuel Zisman, broke away from the Labour Party.[1] Kahalani and Zisman disagreed with the party's willingness to entertain the idea of withdrawing from the Golan Heights in return for peace with Syria. While the party objected to withdrawal from the Golan Heights and took a hawkish position as to Lebanon, it held more moderate views on the peace process.[2]

The party ran in the 1996 elections and won 96,457 votes. This gave them four seats, with Yehuda Harel and Professor Alexander Lubotzky joining Kahalani and Zisman in the Knesset. They were invited to join Netanyahu's Likud-led government and Kahalani was appointed Minister of Internal Security. On 23 March 1999, Zisman left the party to sit as an independent.[1]

The party ran in the 1999 elections, but faced with a massive loss of support, won only 26,290 votes (0.7%), well below the electoral threshold of 1.5%. After its failure, the party ceased to function, but remained registered. In 2011 its registration was taken over by Independence.[3]

Leaders

Leader Took office Left office
Avigdor Kahalani 1996 2011

Election results

Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Status
1996 Avigdor Kahalani 96,474 3.1 (#9)
4 / 120
 Increase 2 Government
1999 Avigdor Kahalani 26,290 0.7 (#19)
0 / 120
 Decrease 4 Extraparliamentray

References

  1. ^ a b Mergers and Splits Among Parliamentary Groups Knesset website
  2. ^ Bernstein, Marc L (May 6, 1999). "Party lists for Israel's elections". Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
  3. ^ Yuval Karni (9 May 2011). "Barak readies to launch Independence Party". Ynetnews. Retrieved 23 June 2015.


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