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Israel Resilience Party

The Israel Resilience Party (Hebrew: חוסן לישראל‎, Hosen L’Yisrael) is a political party in Israel established by former Chief of General Staff Benny Gantz in 2018. Gantz introduced his party’s slogan, “Israel Before Everything,” in a video where he asked voters to join him and “walk down a new path.”

According to the official registration document handed to the Registrar of Parties, the party’s goals are:

Continuing to establish and strengthen the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state in light of the Zionist vision as expressed in the Declaration of Independence, while determining and changing the national priorities on the following subjects: education, national infrastructure development, agriculture, law and internal security, welfare policy, and peace and security.

In a campaign speech, Gantz promised his party “won’t allow the Palestinians to endanger our security and identity as a Jewish state,” spoke of the need to retain the Jordan Valley and Golan Heights and the indivisibility of “united Jerusalem.”

Former Chief of Staff and Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon joined the party as did another former Chief, Gabi Ashkenazi.

To strengthen the chance of defeating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Gantz and Yair Lapid, leader of Yesh Atid, agreed to join forces just two months before the April 9, 2019, election. Citing their “national responsibility,” the two leaders said they would run on a joint ticket called “Blue and White” — the colors of the Israeli flag.

According to the arrangement, if they are able to form a governing coalition, Gantz would serve as prime minister for the first 2½ years, and Lapid the remainder of their term in office.


Sources: “Israel Resilience Party,” Wikipedia;
Chaim Levinson, “Netanyahu's Top Challenger Launches Campaign, Revealing Long-awaited Election Slogan,” Haaretz, (January 17, 2019);
Anshel Pfeffer, “Gantz’s Message: Vote for Me – I’m Meaner Than Netanyahu, but Clean,” Haaretz, (January 30, 2019);
Loveday Morris and Ruth Eglash, “Netanyahu’s election rivals merge as Israeli leader makes pact with extreme right,” Washington Post, (February 21, 2019).