Gesher (2019 political party)


Gesher is a liberal and centrist political party in Israel, established in December 2018 by former Yisrael Beitenu MK Orly Levy. The party focuses primarily on economic and cost-of-living issues. The name of the party is a reference to the party founded by Orly's father, David Levy.

History

Levy served on behalf of the Yisrael Beiteinu party during the 20th Knesset, but withdrew from the party after it joined the 34th government, due to the fact that she did not receive a ministerial position despite her high ranking on Yisrael Beitenu's list. At first, she remained officially a part of the party, but later was removed from the party and remained a member of the Knesset. Levy was recognized as an independent member of the Knesset, not a member of the coalition, but in the opposition. In March 2017 Levy announced her intention to establish a new party for the elections.
Gesher was founded in December 2018, a few days after the April 2019 election was called. The party attempted to run on a joint list with Benny Gantz's Hosen L'Yisrael but after negotiations failed, the party declared it would run alone.
On 18 July 2019, ahead of the September 2019 election, the party agreed to form an electoral alliance with the Labor party.
For the 2020 March elections, Gesher-Labor unified with Meretz in light of worries that neither party would pass the 3.25% threshold needed to enter the Knesset. Many Gesher voters were surprised at this merger, because when it comes to the politics of the Arab–Israeli conflict, Gesher was seen as more of a centre-right party, while Meretz is a left wing party. On 17 March 2020, Gesher leader Orly Levy requested that she be allowed to withdraw her party from its alliance with Labor and Meretz. The Arrangements Committee approved the split on 23 March.

Leaders

Election results