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Tzomet (Hebrew: צוֹמֶת, lit., Crossroads) is a small, right-wing political party in Israel.

Key Information

Raful period (1983-1999)

[edit]

The party was founded by General Rafael Eitan in 1983, after his retirement from the position of chief-of-staff in 1982. He headed it throughout its existence, and modeled it in his spirit as a secular, right-wing party with a strong agricultural side. Many of Tzomet's members and MKs were neighbors of Eitan in Tel Adashim (a small moshav). Tzomet ran for the 1984 elections in a joint list with the Tehiya party, and Eitan was its only member of the Knesset. Tzomet and the Tehiya parted way in 1987, and Tzomet ran independently in the 1988 elections, winning two seats.[1] The party joined Yitzhak Shamir's government in 1990, and Eitan was appointed Minister of Agriculture. However, the party left the coalition in December 1991 in protest at Shamir's participation in the Madrid Conference.[2] In the 1992 elections, Tzomet rode a wave of secularist sentiment, gaining the support of many young Israelis, leading to a surprising result of eight seats.[1] Despite Tzomet's success it was not included in Yitzhak Rabin's left-wing coalition. The party's surprising success was also its downfall. None of the new MKs had any political experience, and most were completely unknown. Due to Raful's position in his party, the party was jokingly described as "Raful and the seven dwarfs". Allegations of tyrannical behavior by Raful were raised, and in February 1992, three members: Gonen Segev, Esther Salmovitz, and Alex Goldfarb—left and founded the Yiud party (which then also splintered into Atid).[3] The three left the party because Segev was offered the position of Minister of Energy by Yitzhak Rabin if he voted in favour of the Oslo Accords, which Tzomet opposed, and which would not have passed without his vote.

The splintering and infighting reduced the popularity of the party, despite this, ahead of the 1996 elections, Eitan became known as a potential candidate for PM. In the end Tzomet chose to run in a joint list with the Likud and Gesher under the name "National Camp List". Tzomet was ensured several relatively high places in the combined list, partly as a reward for the withdrawal of Eitan as prime minister candidate, as the Likud feared that he would act as a spoiler for their candidate, Benjamin Netanyahu. The 1996 elections were the first Israeli elections to feature a double vote: one for the Knesset, and one direct vote for the prime minister. As part of the joint list, Tzomet managed to get all five of its Knesset members back into the Knesset. However, over the course of the next few years, Tzomet continued to splinter: Pini Badash left to run in municipal politics, Moshe Peled broke away to form his own Mekhora faction before joining Moledet while Eliezer Sandberg left to form the Centre Party.[3] By the end of the 14th Knesset, Tzomet only had 2 MKs left: Eitan himself and Haim Dayan.

Following the dissolution of the Likud–Gesher–Tzomet alliance ahead of the 1999 elections, Tzomet was in the "political desert", it attempted to join the National Union joint list or rejoin an alliance with the Likud, however both ventures failed and Tzomet ran alone for the Knesset. Over the years Tzomet had lost almost all its support, and won just 4,128 votes, less than 10% of the number needed to cross the 1.5% electoral threshold. After the humiliating defeat, Eitan retired from the political life.

Moshe Gerin period (1999-2009); then dormant

[edit]

Following the retirement of Eitan, the party faded into obscurity in the Israeli political scene

Despite Rafael Eitan's departure, the party, now headed by Moshe Gerin, ran in the 2003, the 2006 elections, and the 2009 elections, but won only 2,023, 1,342, and 1,520 votes, respectively, in the three elections, not meeting the election threshold in any of them. Following their failure to reach the threshold in four successive elections, the party decided not to run in the 2013 and 2015 elections.

New start: Oren Hazan (2019 elections)

[edit]
Alternative logo used during the leadership of Oren Hazan.
Logo of the Party during the September 2019 Election.

In the lead up to the April 2019 elections, Likud MK Oren Hazan failed to achieve a realistic spot in the Likud list, receiving only a small number of votes in the primaries.[4] Following his failure in the Likud primaries, Oren Hazan declared that he would leave the Likud and head his own party, taking over the long-dormant Tzomet party.[5]

Hazan reformed the party, abandoning Eitan's secularism and statesmanlike conduct in favor of Hazan's own rightwing populist policy and rhetoric. Under Hazan, Tzomet received the best result since Eitan's departure, earning 2,417 votes. Despite Hazan's marginal success, this result was far from enough to reach the electoral threshold, and Oren Hazan lost his Knesset seat.[6]

Oren Hazan, 2nd period (2019-)

[edit]

Following Hazan's failure to revive the party, it returned to the hands of Moshe Gerin who brought the party back to its original form, focusing on agrarianism and settlement.[7] The party received an even better result in the September 2019 elections, receiving 14,805 votes (0.33% of the popular vote).

Ideology

[edit]

Under Rafael Eitan (1983-1999)

[edit]

Tzomet's ideology was heavily reflective of Rafael Eitan (Raful) himself. Eitan was a moshavnik, as such, he was influenced by the moshav movement's agricultural, nationalist and secularist ideology. Raful's Tzomet's platform included:[8]

Under Oren Hazan (2019 elections)

[edit]

Under the leadership of Oren Hazan, Tzomet's ideology changed considerably. Tzomet no longer mentioned any changes to Israel's voting or government system. Hazan shifted Tzomet's focus away from secularism and recruitment of the Ultra Orthodox. Under Hazan, Tzomet focused primarily on criticizing Netanyahu's defense policy from the right and supporting more aggressive measures against terrorism and against the Israeli Arab members of the Knesset.[9]

Under Moshe Gerin (2019-)

[edit]

After Hazan left the party, and Moshe Gerin came back to lead it, Tzomet's ideology returned to its agrarianist base.[7] The party's support dwindled 280 times in the fall-winter 2019.

Leaders

[edit]

 Leader Took office Left office
Rafael Eitan 1983 1999
Moshe Gerin 1999 2009
Oren Hazan 2019 2019
Moshe Gerin 2019 Incumbent

Election results

[edit]
Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Status
1984 Rafael Eitan With Tehiya
1 / 120
 New Opposition
1988 45,489 2.0 (#10)
2 / 120
 Increase 1 Coalition
1992 166,366 6.4 (#4)
8 / 120
 Increase 6 Opposition
1996 With Likud and
Gesher
5 / 120
 Decrease 3 Coalition
1999 4,128 0.1
0 / 120
 Decrease 5 Extra-parliamentary
2003 Moshe Gerin 2,023 0.06
0 / 120
 Steady Extra-parliamentary
2006 1,342 0.04
0 / 120
 Steady Extra-parliamentary
2009 1,520 0.05
0 / 120
 Steady Extra-parliamentary
Apr 2019 Oren Hazan 2,417 0.06
0 / 120
 Steady Extra-parliamentary
Sep 2019 Moshe Gerin 14,627 0.33
0 / 120
 Steady Extra-parliamentary
2020 Did not contest Extra-parliamentary
2021 663 0.02
0 / 120
 Steady Extra-parliamentary
2022 377 0.01
0 / 120
 Steady Extra-parliamentary

Knesset members

[edit]
Year Members Total
1984 Rafael Eitan 1
1988 Rafael Eitan, Yoash Tzidon 2
1992 Rafael Eitan, Pini Badash, Alex Goldfarb, Haim Dayan, Eliezer Sandberg, Esther Salmovitz, Moshe Peled, Gonen Segev 8
1994 Rafael Eitan, Pini Badash, Haim Dayan, Eliezer Sandberg, Moshe Peled 5
1998 Rafael Eitan, Haim Dayan, Eliezer Sandberg, Moshe Peled 4
1999 Rafael Eitan, Haim Dayan 2

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Tzomet

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from Grokipedia
Tzomet (Hebrew: צוֹמֶת, lit. 'Crossroads') is a minor right-wing political party in founded in 1983 by , the former Chief of Staff of the . The party originated as a splinter from the movement and emphasized Zionist renewal amid security concerns following the . Eitan led Tzomet into the in the 1984 elections, where it secured two seats, and expanded to eight seats by 1988, reflecting voter support for its hawkish stance on territorial integrity and opposition to perceived concessions to Palestinian entities. In 1990, Tzomet joined Yitzhak Shamir's coalition government, with Eitan serving as Minister of Agriculture until the party's withdrawal in 1992 over policy disputes. Following Eitan's retirement from politics in 1996, the party experienced leadership changes and electoral decline, merging briefly with other factions before fading from significant parliamentary representation, though it persists as a small ultranationalist entity under leaders like Moshe Gerin.

History

Founding and Rafael Eitan Era (1983–1992)

Tzomet was established in October 1983 by Rafael Eitan, a retired Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff known for his hawkish views on security and opposition to territorial concessions. The party, meaning "Crossroads" in Hebrew, positioned itself as a right-wing Zionist movement emphasizing national renewal, strong defense policies, and resistance to Palestinian statehood aspirations. Eitan, who had retired from military service in 1982 amid controversies over his role in the 1982 Lebanon War, sought to translate his popularity among security-oriented voters into political influence. In the July 1984 elections, Tzomet ran on a with the party, securing one seat occupied by Eitan within Tehiya's total of five mandates. The alliance reflected shared ultranationalist stances but dissolved by 1987 due to internal disagreements, allowing Tzomet to contest the 1988 elections independently. In those elections, held on November 1, 1988, Tzomet won two seats, with Eitan leading the list and appealing to voters disillusioned with larger parties' compromises on . The party's platform prioritized military strength, settlement expansion in the and Gaza, and agricultural self-sufficiency, aligning with Eitan's rural background as a farmer. Tzomet joined Yitzhak Shamir's Likud-led coalition government in 1990, where Eitan served as Minister of Agriculture from June 11, 1990, to December 31, 1991. In this role, he advocated for policies supporting Jewish settlements and opposed Madrid Conference peace initiatives, reflecting the party's causal emphasis on deterrence and territorial control as prerequisites for security. The party exited the government in late 1991 over disputes regarding participation in peace talks, solidifying its reputation as a faction unwilling to yield on core principles. Under Eitan's through 1992, Tzomet maintained a secular, non-religious orientation, distinguishing it from other right-wing groups while attracting former and peripheral voters concerned with national resilience.

Electoral Peak and Government Participation (1992–1999)

In the June 23, 1992, elections for Israel's 13th , Tzomet reached its electoral zenith under Rafael Eitan's leadership, capturing eight seats with approximately 5% of the popular vote, reflecting Eitan's appeal as a hawkish former Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces. The party's platform emphasized strong , opposition to territorial concessions, and support for Jewish settlement expansion. Despite this breakthrough, which positioned Tzomet as a significant right-wing force, Eitan opted against joining Yitzhak Rabin's Labor-led coalition, citing irreconcilable differences over concessions, thereby maintaining the party in opposition. Tzomet's parliamentary influence eroded during the 13th term due to internal fractures and defections. In late 1995, three MKs—Gonen Segev, Salmovitz, and Alex Goldfarb—split to form the Yiud faction, reducing Tzomet's seats to five; Segev's subsequent appointment as Minister of Energy in Rabin's underscored the ideological fissures, as he prioritized personal advancement over party loyalty. These departures weakened Tzomet's cohesion and bargaining power, limiting its legislative impact despite vocal criticism of the . The May 29, 1996, elections marked a sharp decline, with Tzomet securing just one amid voter fragmentation on the right and the novelty of direct prime ministerial voting. Eitan retained his mandate, but the party's marginalization reflected broader challenges in sustaining momentum post-1992. Nonetheless, Tzomet entered Benjamin Netanyahu's in June 1996, with Eitan serving as Minister of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, as well as , enabling influence over policy areas like agricultural subsidies and settlement support, though constrained by the party's single seat. Tzomet's tenure in the 14th Knesset ended amid coalition strains, including disputes over the . In the May 17, 1999, elections for the 15th , the party failed to surpass the 1.5% , winning no seats as Eitan announced his retirement from politics, citing health and strategic reasons. This collapse terminated Tzomet's government participation and Eitan's dominant role, shifting the party toward obscurity.

Dormancy under Moshe Geri (1999–2018)

Following the May 17, 1999, elections, in which Tzomet ran independently and failed to surpass the 1.5% , securing no seats, the party transitioned into a phase of political inactivity under Moshe Gerin's leadership. This outcome marked a sharp decline from its prior representation, as the party had previously aligned with larger blocs but struggled to maintain voter support amid shifting right-wing dynamics and the rise of competitors like . Gerin, who assumed the chairmanship around this period, presided over Tzomet's effective withdrawal from electoral contention, with the party abstaining from independent runs in the subsequent 2003, 2006, 2009, 2013, and 2015 elections. The death of founder Rafael Eitan on November 23, 2004, in a drowning accident at Ashdod port further eroded the party's visibility, as Eitan had been its defining figure since 1983, embodying its hardline security and territorial stances. During these nearly two decades, Tzomet sustained only nominal operations, primarily rooted in its original agrarian and Zionist renewal ethos, without notable policy initiatives, public campaigns, or institutional influence in the Knesset or government coalitions. This dormancy reflected broader challenges for small right-wing factions in Israel's fragmented party system, where consolidation under dominant parties like Likud diminished space for niche movements.

Revival Attempts under Oren Hazan and Moshe Geri (2019–Present)

In February 2019, former MK , having secured a low position in his party's primaries for the April elections, announced his decision to revive the dormant Tzomet party and lead its list. This move aimed to position Tzomet as a right-wing alternative emphasizing aggressive security policies and criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu's defense approach from a hawkish perspective. In the April 9, 2019, elections, Tzomet under Hazan received approximately 0.06% of the vote, falling far short of the 3.25% and securing no seats. For the subsequent September 17, 2019, elections, leadership shifted to Moshe Gerin, the party's longstanding figure since 1999, who had maintained minimal activity during its dormancy. Gerin-led Tzomet garnered 16,000 votes, equivalent to about 0.41% of the total, again failing to cross the threshold. The effort highlighted persistent challenges in mobilizing sufficient voter support amid a fragmented right-wing landscape dominated by larger parties like . Ahead of the March 2, 2020, elections, Tzomet withdrew its candidacy on February 16, 2020, following an agreement with to endorse Netanyahu in exchange for potential future considerations, reducing the number of competing lists to 29. This decision underscored the revival's reliance on alliances with established powers rather than independent viability. No further electoral runs occurred in the 2021 or 2022 cycles, with Tzomet reverting to inactivity, reflecting limited organizational resources and voter recognition in a polarized political environment. As of 2025, the party remains outside the , with Gerin listed as its nominal leader but no active campaigns or significant public profile.

Ideology and Policy Positions

Security and National Defense Priorities

Tzomet's security and national defense priorities emphasize the inseparability of territorial control and military strength, positing that retention of , , and Gaza is vital for Israel's defensive depth against existential threats. Founder , leveraging his experience as IDF from 1978 to 1983, argued that the constitutes an integral security buffer, rejecting territorial concessions that could expose Israel's narrow coastal plain to invasion. The party advocated for outright of these areas to solidify strategic advantages and deter aggression. Central to Tzomet's defense doctrine is universal , including mandatory for students, whom Eitan criticized for evading military duties while receiving state funding. The platform linked civic rights, such as voting, to fulfillment of service obligations, aiming to foster a cohesive, battle-ready society. In the administered territories, Tzomet supported stringent enforcement, including severe penalties for public order violations, to maintain deterrence and operational freedom for . Under subsequent leaders like during the 2019 revival, Tzomet critiqued perceived leniency in counter-terrorism from the right-wing perspective, calling for escalated proactive measures against militant threats to prioritize Israel's survival over diplomatic restraint. This hawkish continuity reflects the party's foundational view that national defense demands unyielding resolve, informed by Eitan's military realism rather than accommodationist approaches.

Socio-Economic and Agricultural Focus

Tzomet's agricultural focus stems from the personal background of its founder, , a resident of the Tel Adashim, and the party's strong base among members of kibbutzim and , Israel's cooperative agricultural settlements. Eitan served as Minister of Agriculture in Yitzhak Shamir's government from June 1990 until the party's withdrawal in December 1991, and again in Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition from 1996 to 1999. During his tenure, the party prioritized policies supporting and the agricultural sector, which faced challenges from and water resource allocation in the 1990s. Socio-economically, Tzomet advocated for fiscal responsibility and opposed disproportionate state funding for religious institutions, including large allocations to , while calling for the enlistment of yeshiva students in to promote equity in civic obligations. The party positioned itself against corruption and elitism, appealing to voters in Israel's periphery who felt marginalized by central urban policies, though specific economic platforms emphasized practical support for working-class and rural communities over broad liberalization. In revival efforts led by starting in 2019, Tzomet reaffirmed its commitment to agricultural interests, explicitly focusing on the needs of farmers amid ongoing debates over , subsidies, and competition from imports. This continuity underscores the party's role as a defender of Israel's agricultural heritage against and global market pressures.

Stance on Settlements and

Tzomet's platform has historically prioritized the preservation of Israel's by opposing any concessions of land captured during the 1967 , viewing such areas—particularly and (the )—as essential for . The party's stance derives from a geopolitical rationale rather than religious ideology, emphasizing that relinquishing control would invite existential threats from hostile neighbors and . This position aligns with Tzomet's broader hawkish orientation, which rejects negotiations leading to a Palestinian state in these territories and advocates solving the Palestinian issue through Jordanian absorption rather than Israeli territorial withdrawal. Under Rafael Eitan's leadership, Tzomet explicitly supported expanding Jewish settlements in the as a strategic imperative to secure demographic majorities and overwhelm Arab claims to the land. Eitan argued in 1983 that intensive settlement would render the Arab population a minority, thereby neutralizing nationalist challenges without relying on alone. The party platform called for outright of , , and the , coupled with policies like conditioning voting rights on to reinforce Israeli and exclude non-contributors from political influence in annexed areas. This uncompromising approach extended to rejecting interim agreements or autonomy arrangements that could prelude statehood for west of the , insisting instead on full Israeli control from the Mediterranean to the . Tzomet's advocacy for settlements and positioned it as a bulwark against left-leaning parties favoring land-for-peace deals, though practical implementation was limited by coalition dynamics during its tenures in the 1990s.

Evolution and Comparisons Across Leadership Periods

Under Rafael Eitan's leadership from 1983 to 1999, Tzomet emphasized ultranationalist positions rooted in ideology, advocating retention of sovereignty over territories captured in 1967 and intensive Jewish settlement in the to counter . Eitan, drawing from his moshav background and military career, prioritized agricultural self-sufficiency alongside hawkish policies, including opposition to territorial concessions and support for militias. The party's secularist stance distinguished it from religious right-wing factions, focusing on nationalist renewal without religious orthodoxy. Following Eitan's death in 2004 and under Moshe Gerin's leadership from 1999 onward, Tzomet entered dormancy, with minimal ideological shifts evident in its sparse activity; core tenets of , , and persisted, but the party adopted elements of while maintaining and a pro-settler orientation on . Unlike Eitan's era, which leveraged his personal stature for security-focused hawkishness, Gerin's tenure emphasized peripheral development and agricultural advocacy amid electoral irrelevance, reflecting a narrower domestic scope rather than broad ultranationalist mobilization. This period saw no major policy reversals, but reduced visibility diluted the party's influence on defense debates compared to its peak under Eitan. The 2019 revival attempt under introduced populist right-wing appeals aimed at unifying fragmented factions, retaining agrarian priorities for farmers' needs while echoing Eitan's territorial maximalism through Hazan's personal opposition to Palestinian statehood. Hazan's platform aligned with Tzomet's historical but amplified periphery grievances, contrasting Gerin's quiescence; however, it failed to surpass Eitan-era electoral highs, gaining only 2,417 votes in April 2019 before withdrawal. Overall, Tzomet's ideology exhibited continuity in hawkish territorialism and agricultural focus across leaders, with evolutions primarily in emphasis—Eitan's military-driven yielding to Gerin's subdued and Hazan's merger-seeking —rather than substantive doctrinal changes.

Leadership

Rafael Eitan (1983–1999)

Rafael Eitan, a former Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces known for his hawkish views on security, founded Tzomet in 1983 as a right-wing Zionist party emphasizing territorial integrity, national service, and agricultural interests reflective of his background as a moshav farmer. The party initially aligned with Tehiya for the 1984 Knesset elections, securing representation, before running independently in 1988 and winning 2 seats with 45,489 votes (2.0% of the vote). Under Eitan's leadership, Tzomet advocated for the annexation of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza, opposed territorial concessions, and promoted secular policies including the drafting of yeshiva students into military or national service. In June 1990, Tzomet joined Yitzhak Shamir's coalition government, with Eitan serving as Minister of Agriculture until the party's withdrawal in December 1991 amid disagreements over the peace conference. The 1992 elections marked Tzomet's peak under Eitan, gaining 8 seats with 165,366 votes (6.4%), campaigning on an and secular platform that appealed to voters disillusioned with parties. Eitan led the party in opposition to the , criticizing concessions to the as threats to Israel's security. By 1996, facing fragmentation on the right, Tzomet merged into the Likud-Gesher list, contributing to the coalition's success; Eitan subsequently served as Minister of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, as well as , in Benjamin Netanyahu's government. However, running independently in the 1999 elections, Tzomet received only 4,128 votes (0.1%), failing to cross the and entering the . This electoral collapse prompted Eitan's retirement from politics in 1999, ending his 16-year tenure as the party's dominant figure and ushering in a period of dormancy.

Moshe Geri (1999–Present)

Moshe Gerin succeeded Rafael Eitan as leader of Tzomet in 1999, following the party's participation in the Likud-Gesher-Tzomet alliance during the 1996–1999 Knesset term, after which it failed to secure independent representation in the 1999 elections. Under Gerin's stewardship, Tzomet shifted emphasis back to its foundational priorities of agricultural advocacy and support for Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria, attempting to differentiate from broader right-wing consolidation in Israeli politics. However, the party encountered persistent electoral challenges, receiving less than 1% of the vote in the 2003, 2006, and 2009 elections, which prevented it from crossing the 1.5% electoral threshold required for Knesset seats and led to a phase of effective dormancy through the 2010s. Efforts to revive Tzomet under Gerin intensified ahead of the 2019 elections. After Hazan's short-lived leadership bid in the 2019 vote yielded negligible results, Gerin resumed control and refocused the platform on , , and opposition to territorial concessions. In the September 2019 elections, Tzomet garnered 16,001 votes, equivalent to 0.42% of the total, still falling short of the threshold despite a modest uptick from prior showings. Facing ongoing marginalization, Gerin opted against fielding candidates in the March 2020 elections, instead endorsing the party and as a tactical alignment with aligned right-wing forces. This decision reflected Tzomet's diminished capacity for independent contestation amid Israel's fragmented and higher post-2015 electoral reforms. Gerin has retained formal leadership into the present, with the party maintaining a low-profile presence advocating peripheral economic interests and hawkish defense policies, though without notable legislative impact or relevance since 1999.

Oren Hazan (2019 Revival)

In February 2019, , a member facing demotion after poor performance in party primaries, announced his leadership of the revived Tzomet party for the April 9, 2019, legislative elections. Hazan described the move as a resurrection of the dormant right-wing faction, expressing intent to unite fragmented right-leaning voters and return Tzomet to the . Hazan, known for inflammatory rhetoric during his Likud tenure, campaigned on Tzomet's traditional hawkish platform emphasizing and , though specific policy details for the revival were limited in public statements. The effort drew attention through provocative tactics, including a March 2019 campaign video parodying against an Arab MK, Jamal Zahalka, which led to police complaints for alleged to murder. Tzomet under Hazan's leadership failed to garner sufficient support, receiving votes below the 3.25% electoral threshold required for Knesset entry, resulting in no seats and marking another unsuccessful revival attempt. Leadership subsequently shifted to Moshe Geri for the September 2019 elections, where the party achieved marginally higher but still threshold-failing results of approximately 16,000 votes. Hazan's brief stewardship highlighted challenges in resuscitating minor parties amid Israel's fragmented right-wing landscape dominated by larger blocs like Likud.

Electoral History and Performance

Key Election Outcomes (1984–1999)

In the 1984 Knesset election held on 23 July, ran on a with , securing five seats in total for the alliance, though only was elected as Tzomet's representative. This modest debut reflected Eitan's personal appeal as a former IDF amid voter dissatisfaction with established parties following the . Tzomet contested the 1988 election independently on 1 November, earning 2.1% of the vote and two seats, with Eitan retaining his position and Yoash Tzidon joining as the second member. The party's platform emphasized security hawkishness and opposition to territorial concessions, attracting protest votes from right-wing constituencies alienated by Likud's coalition compromises. The 1992 election on 23 June marked Tzomet's peak, as it surged to 8.0% of the vote and eight seats, drawing support from former voters and those seeking a harder line against Labor's emerging peace initiatives. Eitan refused to join Rabin's coalition, maintaining the party's independence despite its parliamentary leverage. In 1996, Tzomet allied with and Gesher in a for the 29 May election, contributing to the bloc's 32 seats; Tzomet specifically secured five mandates within this framework, buoyed by Eitan's leadership but facing internal strains over policy alignments. Tzomet's fortunes declined sharply in the 1999 election on 17 May, failing to cross the and winning zero seats, exacerbated by Eitan's retirement announcement and party splintering ahead of the vote.
Election YearVotes ReceivedVote PercentageSeats Won
1984 (joint with )~67,000 (alliance total)3.1% (alliance)1 (Tzomet-specific)
1988105,0002.1%2
1992395,0008.0%8
1996 (Likud-Gesher-Tzomet alliance)N/A (alliance total: 32 seats)N/A5 (Tzomet-specific)
1999Below threshold<1.5%0

Post-1999 Elections and Failures to Enter Knesset

In the May 1999 Knesset elections, Tzomet contested independently under Rafael Eitan's leadership and received approximately 26,000 votes, equating to 0.7% of the total, which fell short of the 1.5% required for representation, resulting in no seats. Following Eitan's retirement from politics, Moshe Geri assumed party leadership, but Tzomet's electoral viability eroded further amid Israel's shifting political landscape, including the rise of larger right-wing alliances and voter consolidation toward and new parties. Subsequent elections underscored Tzomet's marginalization. In the January 2003 elections, the party secured just 2,023 votes (0.1%), far below the threshold, reflecting a drastic decline from its prior peaks. Performances in 2006, 2009, 2013, and 2015 similarly yielded negligible support, consistently under 1% of votes, preventing entry into the and highlighting the challenges of small, niche right-wing parties competing against broader coalitions. A brief revival attempt occurred in early 2019 when former MK , seeking re-election after failing to secure a realistic slot, took over Tzomet's leadership and headed its list for the April elections. Despite Hazan's profile and the party's hawkish platform emphasizing security and settlement support, Tzomet again failed to meet the 3.25% threshold, obtaining minimal votes. In the September 2019 repeat election and the March 2020 contest, the party withdrew its candidacy to endorse leader , forgoing independent runs and further diminishing its independent presence. These outcomes cemented Tzomet's exclusion from the since 1999, with no subsequent leadership or strategic shifts reversing the trend.

Knesset Representation

Members During Peak Period (1984–1999)

Tzomet secured its initial Knesset representation in the 11th Knesset (1984–1988) through a joint list with , with , the party's founder and former IDF Chief of Staff, as its sole member. Eitan's election underscored the party's early focus on attracting voters supportive of robust national security and opposition to territorial concessions. In the 12th Knesset (1988–1992), Tzomet ran independently and won two seats, both held by Eitan and another representative, marking modest growth amid competition from larger right-wing factions. This period highlighted the party's niche appeal to secular, hawkish constituencies skeptical of the major parties' handling of and governance issues. The peak came in the Knesset (1992–1996), with Tzomet capturing eight seats on a platform emphasizing , military strength, and resistance to concessions perceived as weakening Israel's position. Key members included Eitan as leader, alongside figures like Moshe Peled, a retired IDF general advocating , Haim Dayan, and Eliezer Sandberg, reflecting the party's recruitment of ex-military personnel to bolster its -oriented image. Gonen Segev, another member, later defected amid personal controversies, reducing cohesion. By the 14th (1996–1999), Tzomet allied with and Gesher in a joint list that won 32 seats overall, with Tzomet allocated five, including Eitan, Peled, and Dayan, who continued emphasizing hardline policies before a 1999 split that isolated the party's remnant faction. This era's members largely comprised veterans and professionals aligned with Eitan's vision, though internal fractures and electoral shifts eroded the group's influence by 1999.

Absence and Minimal Impact Post-1999

Following Rafael Eitan's retirement from politics in 1999, Tzomet, under the leadership of Moshe Geri, experienced a sharp decline in electoral viability and has held no seats in the since that time. The party continued to field candidates in subsequent national elections, such as the January 2003 vote, but garnered insufficient support to surpass the —initially 1.5% and raised to 2% in 2003, then 3.25% from 2015 onward—resulting in zero representation and negligible influence on policy or dynamics. This absence stemmed from the loss of Eitan's personal appeal as a military hero, fragmentation of the right-wing vote among larger parties like , and Tzomet's inability to differentiate its platform amid shifting voter priorities toward and economic issues. A temporary revival attempt occurred in the April 2019 election to the 21st , when former MK assumed leadership and positioned the party as a hardline alternative emphasizing Jewish sovereignty and opposition to left-wing policies. However, Tzomet received only 2,417 votes, equivalent to 0.06% of the total, far below the threshold and marking one of the lowest performances among participating lists. In the subsequent 2019 election to the 22nd , with Geri resuming control, the party improved marginally to approximately 16,000 votes (about 0.33%), still insufficient for entry and reflecting limited voter mobilization despite right-wing bloc fragmentation. Tzomet withdrew from the March 2020 election campaign after endorsing leader , further underscoring its marginal role as a tactical rather than independent force. Overall, the party's post-1999 demonstrates sustained electoral irrelevance, with no legislative presence, minimal media coverage of its initiatives, and reliance on occasional alliances rather than standalone viability, as right-wing voters consolidated behind dominant parties.

Controversies

Policy Disputes and Coalition Exits

Tzomet participated in Yitzhak Shamir's right-wing coalition government formed in June 1990, securing the Agriculture Ministry portfolio for party leader Rafael Eitan. The party's involvement reflected its alignment with Likud on hawkish security policies and opposition to territorial concessions. However, tensions arose amid post-Gulf War pressures for peace negotiations, with Eitan warning in May 1991 that Tzomet's two Knesset members would exit the government if discussions on relinquishing Israeli territory advanced. The breaking point came after Israel's attendance at the Peace Conference in late October to early November 1991, where initial multilateral talks on Arab-Israeli issues signaled potential compromises on land. Tzomet withdrew from the coalition in December 1991, with Eitan publicly condemning the government's concessions during the conference as a betrayal of core security principles. This exit, driven by ideological opposition to any framework risking territorial withdrawals, mirrored withdrawals by fellow right-wing parties and , which departed earlier or concurrently over similar foreign policy disputes, contributing to the coalition's instability. No further coalition exits occurred during Tzomet's subsequent alignments, such as the 1996 electoral pact with and Gesher under Netanyahu, which dissolved ahead of the 1999 elections due to internal transitions rather than policy rifts. The 1991 departure underscored Tzomet's uncompromising stance on retaining full control over disputed territories, prioritizing over diplomatic engagement with Arab states.

Oren Hazan's Personal Scandals and Campaign Tactics

, who led the 2019 revival of after serving as a MK from 2015 to 2019, faced numerous personal scandals that originated during his parliamentary tenure but influenced perceptions of his leadership of the party. In June 2015, an investigative report by Israel's Channel 2 alleged that Hazan, while managing a casino in in the early 2000s, supplied to gamblers and arranged prostitutes for clients, including assisting one in fleeing after a fatal car accident. Hazan vehemently denied the accusations, labeling them a politically motivated fabrication by left-wing media, and no criminal charges resulted from the claims despite a police investigation. The scandal prompted his temporary suspension from Knesset plenum speeches by Speaker , who expressed hope Hazan would clear his name. Further legal troubles arose from a 2014 incident, when Hazan was indicted in 2017 for assaulting a Health Ministry employee during a dispute over licensing documents. In 2019, a court convicted him of assault causing minor injury, sentencing him to 100 hours of ; the judge criticized Hazan's "bullying and law-breaking" conduct while noting his partial . Hazan maintained the confrontation was provoked and portrayed the light sentence as vindication against political opponents. Hazan also drew rebukes for inflammatory rhetoric and behavior toward colleagues, particularly female and Arab MKs. In February 2018, the House Committee suspended him for two weeks from plenary sessions following complaints of "offensive, inflammatory" statements, including suggestions that certain female MKs engaged in prostitution or had romantic ties to . Similar suspensions occurred in November 2018 for six weeks due to ongoing disruptions. In July 2017, he publicly called for the execution of a Palestinian attacker's family, a statement decried by critics as but defended by Hazan as a response to . During the 2019 election campaign for Tzomet, Hazan adopted confrontational tactics to attract right-wing voters disillusioned with larger parties, announcing his candidacy via in February 2019 with promises to consolidate rightist support and oppose a Palestinian state. His strategy included provocative media stunts, such as a campaign video simulating the stabbing death of an MK (portrayed as a terrorist), which prompted criminal complaints for to from opponents including former Likud colleague . These approaches, echoing Hazan's prior style of verbal confrontations—like boarding a bus in 2016 to harass Palestinian visitors to an Israeli —aimed to generate publicity but yielded limited electoral success, with Tzomet securing only 1.1% of the vote and failing the . By February 2020, ahead of repeat elections, Hazan withdrew Tzomet's candidacy in a deal to endorse , prioritizing coalition alignment over independent runs.

References

  1. https://en.idi.org.il/israeli-elections-and-parties/parties/tzomet/
  2. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/tzomet-political-party
  3. https://www.encyclopedia.com/politics/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/tzomet-party-junction-movement-zionist-renaissance-hebrew
  4. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/nov/25/israelandthepalestinians.lebanon
  5. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/rafael-ldquo-raful-rdquo-eitan
  6. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/party-drops-out-of-knesset-race-leaving-29-617760
  7. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/259221
  8. https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/24/obituaries/rafael-eitan-75-exgeneral-and-chief-of-staff-in-israel-dies.html
  9. https://www.haaretz.com/2004-11-24/ty-article/rafael-eitan-laid-to-rest-mks-turn-out-in-force-for-funeral/0000017f-e313-d38f-a57f-e7534fa00000
  10. https://www.scribd.com/document/833256431/Oren-Hazan
  11. https://www.csmonitor.com/1983/1229/122930.html
  12. https://academic.oup.com/book/9683/chapter/156821616
  13. https://www.jpost.com/israel-elections/oren-hazan-to-run-as-head-of-tzomet-means-to-unite-the-right-581040
  14. https://www.timesofisrael.com/fifth-times-a-charm-tois-guide-to-the-39-parties-vying-for-your-vote-again/
  15. https://www.timesofisrael.com/arab-mk-wants-oren-hazan-charged-for-parody-video-killing/
  16. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/2019-03-19/ty-article/.premium/israeli-arab-lawmaker-files-complaint-against-oren-hazan-for-incitement-to-murder/0000017f-e7f5-d62c-a1ff-ffff065e0000
  17. https://www.dohainstitute.org/en/PoliticalStudies/Pages/Israeli-Parliamentary-Elections-Netanyahu-Victory-Final-Blow-to-Israeli-Left.aspx
  18. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/2019-04-13/ty-article/.premium/israels-shallow-election-campaign-ended-as-it-deserved-a-farce/0000017f-dbaf-d3a5-af7f-fbaf43650000
  19. https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/tsomet
  20. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/results-of-the-2003-election
  21. https://m.knesset.gov.il/EN/mk/apps/faction/general/split-merge
  22. https://ciaotest.cc.columbia.edu/olj/sa/sa_99naf02.html
  23. https://en.idi.org.il/israeli-elections-and-parties/elections/2019-1/
  24. https://www.jta.org/archive/tsomet-will-pull-out-of-government-if-giving-up-territory-is-discussed
  25. https://www.economist.com/obituary/2004/12/02/rafael-eitan
  26. https://en.idi.org.il/articles/54394
  27. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/09/israel-deputy-speaker-oren-hazan-suspended-drug-pimping-allegations
  28. https://www.jta.org/2015/11/25/politics/meet-oren-hazan-israels-most-scandalous-lawmaker
  29. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/6/10/israeli-lawmaker-suspended-over-pimping-allegations
  30. https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/politics/154643-170904-israeli-lawamaker-oren-hazan-indicted-for-assault-charges
  31. https://www.timesofisrael.com/oren-hazan-sentenced-to-community-service-for-2014-assault/
  32. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2018-02-01/ty-article/.premium/mk-hazan-temporarily-removed-from-knesset-over-offensive-statements/0000017f-db25-db22-a17f-ffb599640000
  33. https://www.israelhayom.com/2018/11/14/controversial-likud-mk-oren-hazan-barred-for-knesset-for-6-weeks/
  34. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/7/26/israeli-mk-id-execute-palestinian-attackers-family
  35. https://imemc.org/article/israeli-election-2019-jewish-lawmaker-kills-arab-colleague-in-campaign-video/
  36. https://www.jlac.ps/en/Article/96/-MK-Oren-Hazan-with-an-Israeli-right-wing-group-assaulted-Palestinian-Families-on-their-way-to-Visit-their-Relatives-at-Nafha-Prison
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