Eretz Yisrael Shelanu (Hebrew: ארץ ישראל שלנו, lit. 'Land of Israel is Ours') is a far-right religious party in Israel.[1][2][3] Founded by Chabad Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpo and Baruch Marzel[4] on 11 November 2008, it seeks to prevent both the creation of a Palestinian state as well as the dismantling of Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Eretz Yisrael Shelanu ארץ ישראל שלנו | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Shalom Dov Wolpo |
| Founded | 11 November 2008 |
| Ideology | Religious Zionism Religious conservatism Social conservatism Ultranationalism |
| Political position | Far-right |
| Alliance | National Union (2009-2013) |
| Most MKs | 1 (2009–2012) |
| Fewest MKs | 1 (2009–2012) |
| Election symbol | |
| קי | |
| Website | |
| www.sos-israel.com | |
History
edit
In 2008, in anticipation of the 2009 Knesset elections, Wolpe and his party merged with Baruch Marzel's Jewish National Front. The Knesset list was topped by Wolpe, Marzel, and Israeli musician Ariel Zilber. In the weeks prior to the election, the joint list agreed to run as part of the National Union list, with Michael Ben-Ari, its representative, taking the 4th spot on the alliance's list. The Union won four seats, allowing Ben-Ari to enter the Knesset.
On 27 October 2010, violence broke out at the town of Umm al-Fahm between Eretz Yisrael Shelanu marchers and Arab counter-protesters.[5]
In 2012, Ben-Ari and Aryeh Eldad of Hatikva, another member party of the National Union, announced their decision to leave the alliance and form Otzma LeYisrael.[6] Ben-Ari left Eretz Yisrael Shelanu, and formed Otzma Yehudit[7] and leading up to the 2013 Knesset elections, party leader Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpo announced his support of HaBayit HaYehudi. Subsequently, leading Haredi rabbis Ya'akov Yosef and David Meir Drukman announced cessation of support of Eretz Yisrael Shelanu.[citation needed]
In April 2019 Knesset elections, Rafi Levengrond - father of a murder victim in Barkan shooting terror attack Kim Levengrond-Yehezkel, used the party as a 'Shelf Party' to run his own list for the Knesset.[8][9] In the September 2019 Knesset elections Avi Yalou used the party as a 'shelf party' to run for the Knesset with his own list called "Tsedek" ("Justice" in Hebrew).[10][11]
Leaders
edit| Leader | Took office | Left office | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Shalom Dov Wolpo | 2008 | 2015 | |
Election results
edit| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Shalom Dov Wolpo | 112,570 (#8) (As part of National Union) |
3.34 | 1 / 120
|
New | Opposition |
| 2013 | Shalom Dov Wolpo | Did not contest | Extraparliamentary | |||
| 2015 | Shalom Dov Wolpo | Did not contest | Extraparliamentary | |||
| April 2019 | Rafi Levengrond | 701 (#27) | 0.02 | 0 / 120
|
 0
|
Extraparliamentary |
| September 2019 | Avi Yalou | 3,053 (#14) | 0.07 | 0 / 120
|
0
|
Extraparliamentary |
References
edit- ^ Moledet breaks from newly formed Bayit Hayehudi The Jerusalem Post, 18 December 2008
- ^ Profile: Our Land of Israel Al-Jazeera, 27 October 2010
- ^ Israeli police clash with Arab youths The Guardian, 27 October 2010
- ^ Efrat Weiss. Marzel, Rabbi Wolpo to run for Knesset. YNet News 15 December 2008
- ^ Profile: Our Land of Israel. MWC News, 28 October 2010
- ^ "Ben-Ari Leaves National Union, Will Run with Eldad". Arutz 7. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
- ^ "Eldad, Ben-Ari form new party: Strong Israel". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
- ^ Hezki Baruch (21 February 2019). "Running for the Knesset in memory of his murdered daughter". Israel National News.
- ^ Gideon Allon (22 February 2019). "Israeli election shifts into high gear after filing deadline expires". Israel Hayom.
- ^ Wootliff, Raoul (2 August 2019). "32 parties register electoral slates for September vote, down from 47 last time". The Times of Israel.
- ^ "Know Your "Enemy"". Jewish Currents. 19 August 2019.