Shinui

History

Shinui (Hebrew for "Change") was formed in 1974, a few months after the Yom Kippur (October) War, as one of the protest movements. Its original name was "Shinui - The political and social revival movement." As it was formed, Shinui decided to run for the Knesset.

In 1976, the late professor Yigael Yadin, who was IDF's second chief of staff, formed a political party which was destined to run for the Knesset - "The Democratic Movement." Shinui and The Democratic Movement began negotiation to form a united party, and indeed in the beginning of 1977 it was born as "Dash - The Democratic Movement For Change." After Dash was formed, a group from "Hamrkaz Hahofshi" ("The Free Center"), led by the late MK Shmuel Tamir, and a group from the Israeli Labor Party, led by Meir Amit, joined it.

In the 1977 general elections Dash got 15 seats. At first, Dash did not join the Likud government, led by the late Menachem Begin, and so Begin formed a coalition which only had a 61 majority in the Knesset. When the late Moshe Dayan joined the government as Foreign Minister, the majority went up to 62.

In Dash, a fierce inner struggle about joining the Begin government took place. Finally, after a few months, the Dash council decided, on a small majority, to join the coalition. The Shinui members inside Dash opposed this move.

About a year after it was formed, Dash split into two parties - Shinui, and The Democratic Party.

In the 1981 general elections, Shinui got two seats - MK Amnon Rubinstein and MK Mordechai Virshuvski.

In the 1984 general elections, Shinui got three seats, this time Rubinstein and Virshuvski were joined by MK Zeidan Atshi. After the elections, Shinui joined the national unity government led by Shimon Peres, and Amnon Rubinstein became Minister of Communication. In the beginning of 1987 Shinui left the government as a reaction to Yitzhak Shamir opposing "The London Agreement."

The 1988 general elections saw Shinui joining the "Independent Liberals" (Lamed Ayin) and the "Liberal Center" (Hamerkaz Haliberali), getting two seats - MK Amnon Rubinstein and MK Avraham Poraz.

In the 1992 general elections, Shinui joined Ratz and Mapam to form the Meretz alignment, and got two seats as part of it. Amnon Rubinstein served as Minister of Energy and Infrastructure for about a year, and later became Minister of Education and Culture for three years.

In the 1996 general elections Shinui ran once again with Meretz and Rubinstein and Poraz were elected again.

In the beginning of 1997, Ratz and Mapam decided to unite Meretz into one political party. A group of Shinui members led by Amnon Rubinstein left Shinui and joined Meretz.

In the 1999 election, Shinui increased its representation in the Knesset from one seat to six. The party attributed its success to the fact that it was the first party ever to refuse to join a government that included the ultra-Orthodox parties.

In the 2003 election, Shinui showed surprising strength, and catapulted to the third largest faction in the Knesset with 15 seats.

Ideology

Shinui is currently the only active liberal political party in Israel, and finds its ideological position at the center of the political map. Its basic principals are :

A. Supporting the peace process between Israel and its arab neighbours, including the Oslo agreements with the Palestinians.

B. Free market economy based on liberal principals.

C. Israel should be democratic state which offers its citizens freedom and equality.

Shinui differs from Meretz and the Labor Party mainly in its social and economical approach - liberal economy, as opposed to socialism and centralist economy.

We believe in freedom of religion, and we strongly oppose religious coercion. We fight against the national scandal of the exemption of orthodox youth from army service. We do not alienate religion, and we see all currents in judaism as equal. We believe in mutual understanding and respect as basis to a healthy society.

Shinui is a member of The Liberal International since 1986.

Party Principles

A Secular State

Shinui fights against religious coercion and for a secular state with room for all opinions and beliefs. Extortion and exploitation of the public treasury for religious purposes have to end. The ultra-Orthodox establishment is a threat to the orderly administration of a free society and to the individual freedom that characterizes a democratic state. Attempts to turn Israel into a state based on Halacha (Jewish religious law) endanger our future. We seek to separate state and religion, while preserving the country's Zionist character.

The Peace Process

Shinui supports the peace process. However, Arafat is not a partner for peace, and negotiations have to be conducted with moderate Palestinians. The cessation of terror is an indispensable condition for progress in the diplomatic negotiations. Illegal outposts must be evacuated immediately. As part of the peace arrangements, Israel will also have to leave settlements scattered in the heart of Palestinian populations, but Israel will not evacuate settlement blocs, and these will be integrated within Israel's borders. There are also large settlements, which will be subject to negotiation. We are committed to setting up a separation fence as a partial defense against the frequency of terrorist infiltrations. At the end of the peace process, we will have to find a modus vivendi for Jerusalem, to enable both sides to coexist in peace, with respect for the holy sites of all the three religions. A Palestinian state will be established only after the Palestinians renounce their right to return.

A Free-Market Economy

We represent the middle classes, that are the backbone of Israeli society. In our opinion, the middle class pays too much in taxes and receives too little in return. A reduction in taxes will free up investment funds that will start the wheels of the economy turning once again, thereby providing jobs for the unemployed. We see ourselves as representing professionals, the self-employed, business proprietors, managers and administrative staff, high-tech staffers, those in the standing army, farmers, professors and teachers, pensioners and students. We are the voice of the productive, creative, cultured layer of Israeli society -- those who pay taxes and serve in the military reserves, who believe in law and order, who despise corruption, who suffer from bureaucracy, and who unashamedly believe in Zionism.

The rate of privatization has to be accelerated and the state must relinquish its heavy involvement in the business sector. Within the globalization process, Israel has to be part of the Western economy and we unreservedly support a free market economy, scientific and technological development and high-tech industries. The role of trade unions is to take care of workers' welfare, but the Histadrut has become a political organization serving party-political interests and does not operate for the benefit of the economy. The state's job in economic development is to invest in infrastructure.

Military Service

Shinui believes that the Tal Law, which grants legitimization to draft dodgers, is a national tragedy. The Tal Law rewards a prize for evasion of service. It inflicts severe damage on the principle of equality and endangers our security. Every Jewish youngster who is healthy in mind and in body must serve in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for the same period of time and under the same conditions. This obligation is binding also for yeshiva students, except when the IDF decides, from professional considerations, not to recruit him. In such a case, he is entitled to go out to earn a living in the workplace, and not have to remain trapped in a yeshiva. The Ministry of Defense has to pay proper compensation for reserve army service, especially to those who serve prolonged periods in combat units.

Education And Culture

The state has to strive to provide free education from kindergarten to university. Education must impart humanistic, democratic, Liberal and pluralistic values. A core curriculum, giving the foundation for the knowledge and education to eventually integrate autonomous individuals in an information-rich society and educate them to personal, social, national and Zionist commitment, must be taught in all schools, of all streams. Shinui will act to enhance the standing of teachers and school principals and to improve their training. Shinui advocates equal opportunities in education, in order to reduce gaps and to give every schoolchild the chance to fulfill his/her potential. Better staff and larger budgets must be directed to the outlying districts and for the weaker strata of society. The Ministry of Education will not subsidize educational institutions that do not teach Zionism, civics, mathematics, science and English. Shinui views higher education as the basis for the nation's scientific and technological advancement.

Health

Everyone is entitled to the health benefits made possible by medical science. The health system at present does not meet this criterion. The state has to make every financial, organizational and scientific effort to ensure preventative health services for every healthy person and skilled medical treatment for every sick person. At the same time, private medical services should be encouraged to develop, since they ease the heavy burden that is overloading the public health services.

The Legal System

Shinui sees the law courts in Israel as the backbone of Israeli democracy. While not exempt from criticism, the courts have to be defended because of the anti-democratic forces conspiring against them. Every effort must be made to strengthen the rule of law. The Ministry of Justice has to allocate the requisite resources to shorten legal processes. The excessive authority of the rabbinical courts must be curtailed and their powers transferred to civil courts.

Basic Laws

Shinui supports the passing of more Basic Laws, in order to consolidate a constitution for the country. The very first priority is to pass a Basic Law on Legislation, so that the legal framework is laid down for Basic Law legislation. Then, a Law on Freedom of Religion must be passed, in order to establish equality between the different streams of Judaism and to liberate citizens from the arbitrary rulings of the religious establishment.

Bureaucracy

Shinui battles capricious bureaucracy and waste. Public administration must be made more efficient and officials must interfere less in citizens' lives.

Integrity

Shinui champions integrity in public life and combats corruption at every level of government. Clean administration and the rule of law are essential conditions for correctly regulated public life.

Division of Resources

Shinui demands a new division of the nation's resources. The billions earmarked for religious purposes have to be used for more essential requirements: Less to religious needs and more for social needs. Less to religious needs and more for health. Less to religious needs and more to education and science. Less to religious needs and more for culture and the arts.

The Jewish World

Close contact with the Jewish world is of prime importance to Shinui. The centrality of Israel in Jewish consciousness must be enhanced through educational activity among secular and religious Jewish youngsters worldwide. The damage inflicted by the religious establishment in Israel on the Reform and Conservative streams hinders the majority of Diaspora Jewry in their affiliation with Israel, leading to rifts within the Jewish people.

Immigration and Absorption

The Law of Return is the foundation stone of Israel as a Jewish and Zionist state. The state must invest every effort to increase immigration and to create the conditions for immigrants to be quickly absorbed in the nation's social, economic and cultural life. The ultra-Orthodox persecution of 'mixed' immigrant families from the former Soviet Union must be stopped.

Women's Rights

Every woman is entitled to realize her full potential and to equal opportunities in any job and situation, including equal pay for equal work. Equality of rights should also apply to ultra-Orthodox women, who are at present greatly discriminated-against. Any law or procedure that hinders women's equality, on the grounds of Jewish religious law, will be abolished. In addition, great efforts must be made to reduce domestic violence, the sexual exploitation of women and girls, and sexual harassment.

University / College Students

Shinui considers university students to be Israel's future as a progressive and developed Western state. The enormous sums that flow to yeshivas and to yeshiva students must be diverted to the universities and their students, in order to upgrade academic levels and to lower fees, until fees can be totally abolished. Colleges are an expression of the fact that the field of higher education also needs private enterprise. The subsidies for college fees must be made the same as for university fees.

Concern For Pensioners

People who have worked all their lives, supporting their family, deserve a dignified old age. Israeli society sins unforgivably when it condemns pensioners, who depend on the National Insurance allowance, to lives of humiliation and distress.

Equality For Gays

Shinui upholds the struggle of the homosexual-lesbian community against all discrimination based on sexual orientation and for equal rights of single-sex couples, including the right to adopt children.

The Environment

Shinui champions efforts on behalf of the environment, to protect flora and fauna, to prevent cruelty to animals, to preserve archeological sites and to create a more beautiful Israel. Shinui initiated the Law of the Commissioner for Future Generations, to prevent irreparable environmental damage.

Road Accidents

The carnage on the roads is, Shinui believes, a national disaster. The government must make the fight against road accidents a top priority and it must designate massive budgets to the upgrading of road and rail infrastructure. Greater emphasis must be placed on educating youngsters to caution on the roads, while also imposing more severe penalties on culpable drivers.

Civil Rights

Shinui believes that every citizen is entitled to decide what to believe, what to eat, what and where to buy, when and where to travel, where to go for entertainment, whom and how to marry, and how to be buried. Freedom of expression and freedom of association are the cornerstones of democratic life.

The Declaration Of Independence

Shinui upholds the basic values of Israel as a Zionist and Jewish state, open to every Jew, a state ruled by law in which the minorities have equal rights, in the spirit of the Declaration of Independence.