Gesher
Gesher
Founded in 1995
David Levy established Gesher in late 1995 after his resignation from the Likud several months earlier. Gesher defined itself as a national-social party championing social justice, "the ingathering of the exiles" and working for peace. When the party was established, Levy announced his intention to run as Gesher's candidate for prime minister. But prior to the elections for the 14th Knesset in 1996, he came to an understanding with the leader of the Likud, Binyamin Netanyahu, that he would bow out of the race for prime minister and Gesher would run in a joint list with the Likud and Tzomet. The Gesher representatives were promised eight out of the first forty places in the joint list, and five Gesher Knesset members were elected to the Knesset from the joint list.
In early 1998, however, David Levy convinced Gesher to leave the government. Prior to the elections for the 15th Knesset in 1999, Gesher joined the Labor party and Meimad in a joint list called "One Israel" (Yisrael Ahat). Two members of Knesset, David Levy and his brother Maxim, were elected to the Knesset as members of this joint party. Gesher left the Yisrael Achat faction during 2000. In 2003, prior to the elections for the 16th Knesset, Gesher dissolved.
Fifteen years later, Orly Levy-Abekasis, daughter of Daviv Levy, re-established Gesher and competed in the 2019 elections. The party has a distinct social agneda.
| Election Year | Votes Count | Number Of Seats | Share Of Votes | List Of Candidates | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 74,701 | - | 1.7 |
Candidates
|
Platform
|
David Levy, Orly Levy-Abekasis
As part of the Likud-Gesher-Tzomet faction, Gesher was a member in the Netanyahu government. David Levy served as foreign minister in the government until his resignation in early 1998. A year later, as part of the One Israel (Yisrael Ahat) faction, Gesher participated in Ehud Barak’s government, with David Levy returning to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Levy resigned from the government in the summer of 2000. He returned as a minister without portfolio on behalf of Gesher for a brief period in the first government of Ariel Sharon.