Gesher (1996 political party)

Gesher
גֶּשֶׁר
LeaderDavid Levy
Founded11 March 1996 (1996-03-11)
Dissolved2007
Split fromLikud
Merged intoLikud
Ideology
Political positionCenter-right[1]
AlliancesOne Israel (1999–2001)
Most MKs5 (1996–1999)
Fewest MKs2 (1996, 2003)

Gesher (Hebrew: גֶּשֶׁר, lit.'Bridge'), officially the Gesher National Social Movement (Hebrew: גשר – תנועה חברתית לאומית, Gesher – Teno'a Hevratit Le'umit), was a political party in Israel between 1996 and 2003. It formed when David Levy led a split from the Israeli center-right party Likud. Gesher helped to form coalition governments led by both Likud and the left-wing Labor Party, but never gained significant power.[not verified in body] The party was eventually disbanded as Levy returned to Likud.[not verified in body] In 2019, David Levy's daughter, Orly Levy set up a similar party named Gesher, which advocates for many of the same policies supported by her father.

  1. ^ The Encyclopedia of the Arab-Israeli Conflict. 2008. p. 586.