Yahad (1984)

Yahad ( _he. יחד, lit. "Together") was a centrist political party in Israel. It is not connected with the modern Meretz-Yahad party.

Background

The party was formed by Ezer Weizman prior to the 1984 elections. Weizman had previously been an MK for Likud during the ninth Knesset, but had been ejected from the party after taking dovish positions on disputes concerning the peace process and settlements in the West Bank and for considering forming a new party with Moshe Dayan.

The party managed to win three seats in the election, taken by Weizman, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer and Shlomo Amar. They were invited to join Yitzhak Shamir's coalition government, and Weizman became Minister without Portfolio.

Shortly after the Knesset came into session the party merged with the Alignment, which subsequently became the Labour Party. Weizman became Minister of Science and Technology in the twelfth Knesset, and later served as President of Israel from 1993 to 2000. Ben Eliezer has since served as Minister of Housing and Construction, Minister of Communications, Minister of Defense and Minister of National Infrastructure (his current position), whilst Amar failed to retain his seat in the 1988 elections.

External links

* [http://www.knesset.gov.il/faction/eng/FactionPage_eng.asp?PG=38 Yahad] Knesset website