Democratic Movement (Israel)
The Democratic Movement (Hebrew: תנועה דמוקרטית, Tnu'a Demokratit) was a short-lived political party in Israel formed in the aftermath of the spectacular breakup of Dash. Founded in 1978, it lasted only until 1981.
Democratic Movement תנועה דמוקרטית | |
---|---|
Leader | Yigael Yadin |
Founded | 14 September 1978 |
Dissolved | 10 March 1981 |
Split from | Democratic Movement for Change |
Political position | Centre |
Most MKs | 7 (1978-1980) |
Fewest MKs | 4 (1980-1981) |
Background
The party was formed on 14 September 1978 when Dash split into three new parties just sixteen months after having come third in the 1977 elections. Seven MKs, including Dash leader Yigael Yadin, founded the Democratic Movement, seven created Shinui (Change) and one set up Ya'ad.
Unlike Shinui, which pulled out, the new party remained part of Menachem Begin's coalition government, with Yadin as deputy Prime Minister and Shmuel Tamir as Minister of Justice.
However, like its predecessor, the Democratic Movement also broke up. In 1980 four MKs left the party; Mordechai Elgrably left on 5 February to sit as an independent MK (he later helped form the Unity Party), on 8 July Shafik Asaad and Shlomo Eliyahu left to form Ahva (which also split before the next elections), whilst Akiva Nof left on 17 September, also to join Ahva. The party was officially dissolved on 10 March 1981, with its remaining members, Tamir, Yadin and Binyamin Halevi, sitting out the remainder of the Knesset session as independents.
List of Knesset members
Name | Years in office | Government roles | Other roles | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Shafik Assad | 1978–1980 | Left party to join Ahva | ||
Shlomo Eliyahu | 1978–1980 | Left party to join Ahva | ||
Mordechai Elgrably | 1978–1980 | Left party to sit as an independent | ||
Binyamin Halevi | 1978–1981 | |||
Akiva Nof | 1978–1980 | Left party to join Ahva | ||
Shmuel Tamir | 1978–1981 | Minister of Justice | ||
Yigael Yadin | 1978–1981 | Deputy Prime Minister | Party leader | |