Right Bloc
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Right Bloc (lit. "Right/Rightwards") ימינה | |
|---|---|
| name | Modern Hebrew |
| Leader | Yitzchok Katz |
| Co-Deputy Chairman | Moshe Lippman |
| Co-Deputy Chairman | David Touro |
| Founded | August 25, 1975 |
| Headquarters | Yerushalayim, Yisrael |
| Ideology | Conservatism Torah Judaism Stronger monarchy Dati-interests Internal Factions: National conservatism Ordoliberalism Right-wing populism Welfare capitalism |
| Political position | Right (Center-right-to-Far-right) |
| Religion | Dati sector of Orthodox Judaism |
| Colors | Royal blue |
| Slogan | "Right Leadership. Right Policy. Right Direction." |
| Seats in the Royal Knesset | 80 / 142
|
The Right Bloc, sometimes referred to as Yamina, is a political alliance of the leading Yisraeli right-wing parties - the right-wing Royalist Conservative Party, the socially conservative Torah Achdus party, and the far right League for New Judea. The Right Bloc, along with the Left Bloc, have existed in one form or another since late 1975 in advance of the 1976 general election in the aftermath of the Yarden Accords.
For the upcoming 2020 general elections, Yamina is down one party - the center-right Action Yisrael - that was apart of its political bloc in the 2012 elections and has switched to cross-endorse the center/center-left Con-Lib-splinter party the Alternative for Yisrael. The Right Bloc has a slight majority in Knesset, and with the unexpected entry of the United Center Bloc, polling suggests the party may expand its majority.
History
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
Organization
Rules and practices
Since its founding, the Yamina has been led by the Royalist Conservative Party, which is written into its bylaws as the "leading party of the right." During presidential years where there is an open seat, the Conservative presidential nominee becomes leader of the bloc upon his nomination. In years where there is an incumbent president, the incumbent serves as bloc leader. In midterm years when the President is not on the ballot, the leader of the Conservatives' Knesset caucus becomes the bloc leader.
The party leaders or chosen alternatives/representatives of other right-of-center parties that join the bloc become the co-deputy leaders.
While all the parties are responsible for their own fundraising, since the 1990s, the Conservatives have created joint fundraising committees to help raise and distribute funds to their coalition partners.
Continuity
Since the mid-1980s, the Conservatives and their contemporary allies maintain a coordinated standing committee in-between elections, in addition to any other liaising or mutual contacts they maintain between their Knesset caucuses and party organizations. This committee, usually called the "Right Bloc Election Committee," is often a coveted group to join, and ambitious members of third-party parties often seek to join it to broaden their appeal throughout the right-wing political world.
Right Bloc Election Committee fund-raises perpetually, including off-years when it organizes funds, staffers, advertising, election training, and other assistance to Right Bloc member-parties in District, local, and special elections.
Election pact
Campaign agreement
Governing agreement
Election results and current representation
Current representation
The political alliance is led by Royalist Conservative Party presidential nominee (and sitting Foreign Minister) Yitzchok Katz, who serves as the bloc's chairman, and the co-deputy chairmen are the Toah Achdus leader Moshe Lippman and Northern League leader David Touro. The Bloc has an executive board consisting of all the members of each party's executive councils.
Election results
Since 2004
| Royal Knesset | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Election | Leader | Seats won | +/− | Rank | Majority | Parties In Bloc | ||
| 2018 | Binyamin Goldschmidt | 76 / 142
|
 1
|
#1 | Majority | |||
| 2016 | 75 / 142
|
16
|
#1 | Majority | ||||
| 2014 | 58 / 142
|
 22
|
#2 | Minority | ||||
| 2012 | 80 / 142
|
6
|
#1 | Majority | ||||
| 2010 | 74 / 142
|
9
|
#1 | Majority | ||||
| 2008 | 65 / 142
|
6
|
#2 | Minority | ||||
| 2006 | 71 / 142
|
11
|
Tie | Minority | ||||
| 2004 | 60 / 142
|
TBD | #2 | Minority | ||||
Notes
1. Torah Achdus left the Bloc for the midterm elections due to then-public spats with personalities in the Action Yisrael and Northern League parties. After the election, the TA entered into a supply and confidence agreement with the bloc.
2. While the Action Yisrael and Torah Achdus parties cross-endorsed the Conservatives on the presidential level, they chose to run their own candidates and not enter an election pact for Knesset and other offices.
3. Torah Achdus and the Northern League put aside their simmering feud and policy differences and agreed to stay under one tent with the Conservatives, while Action Yisrael declined to join their list and consequently joined the short-lived one-term Con-Lib majority in the 46th Knesset.
4. The Northern League and Action Yisrael, although they cross-endorsed the Conservatives on the presidential level, declined to join the Right Bloc list at the Knesset and lower level.
5. The Torah Achdus party, although they did not cross-endorse the Conservatives on the presidential level, did to join the Right Bloc list at the Knesset level.
6. The National Union party merged with the Conservatives before the 2006 elections.