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Israel Political Parties: Mapai

(January 5, 1930)

Israel’s major labor party, Mapai (Mifleget Poalei Eretz Israel — Land of Israel Worker’s Party), was established on January 5, 1930, as a Zionist-socialist party and served as the dominant political party in the pre-state and early post-state years. The left-of-center Mapai led every coalition and owned the premiership from 1948 until the party merged into the Labor alignment in 1968. Party power began to wane as a result the Lavon Affair and the subsequent infighting.