The Democrats
The Democrats is an electoral list that was founded in 2024 as a result of a merger between the Labor Party and Meretz. The merger (which was only partial, as both parties have retained their organizational and institutional independence) was led by Yair Golan, a former Meretz Knesset member who was elected chairman of the Labor Party in May 2024.
The party defines itself as Zionist, liberal, and democratic, and its main principles, as published on its website, are as follows:
• Government and democracy: advance the Basic Law: Legislation; strengthen the gatekeepers of the judicial system and the rule of law; amend the Nation-State Law in the spirit of the Declaration of Independence; protect media freedoms; and strengthen local government.
• Defense and foreign affairs: topple the Hamas regime; advance an equal share of the burden of military service (conscription for all); strengthen alliances with moderate elements against the “Axis of Evil”; and halt the annexation process in the West Bank.
• Religion and state: promote the operation of public transport on Shabbat in a limited format in secular localities; promote civil marriage; and extend recognition of conversion to other religious bodies in addition to the Chief Rabbinate.
• Socio-economics: reduce the cost of living; improve social services; and rebuild the public sector.
• Education: make democracy studies obligatory in schools; improve the status of teachers and educational staff; and encourage academic education and research for all sectors of society.