What’s Happening

The Labor Party, chaired by former IDF deputy chief of staff Yair Golan, has formally agreed to merge with the Meretz party. This new united entity will be called “The Democrats.”

Why It Matters

The formation of “The Democrats” signifies a historic step away from merely forming temporary technical blocs. Instead, it represents the creation of a significant liberal-democratic Zionist party designed to offer a stable political home for many Israelis. Notably, this move is seen as essential for consolidating democratic forces and challenging the current right-wing government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Statements on the Merger

The merged parties highlighted, “This union is a necessary step in building a large and strong democratic base that will lead to the replacement of the extreme right-wing government led by Netanyahu.” They indicated that the new party would welcome various democratic forces, including protest organizations, civil society groups, and youth and reserve organizations advocating for equal burdens.

Yair Golan’s Vision

Yair Golan emphasized, “One of the goals I have set for us is to create connections that will lead to the fulfilment of the camp’s electoral potential. This is a necessary political, public and moral goal.”

Structuring ‘The Democrats’

The merged entity plans to select its Knesset list through democratic primaries involving both parties’ members and new recruits. Guaranteed representation ensures at least one Meretz representative in every four spots up to the 16th place on the list.

Additionally, Meretz’s municipal factions, often considered a grassroots strength, will integrate into this new party alongside Labor factions, ensuring a broad representation at local authority levels.

Financial Terms

The agreement stipulates that while both parties will carry their respective debts, Meretz will remain responsible for its estimated debt of approximately 16 million shekels from previous elections.

This story was first published on jpost.com.