Kadima קדימה | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Ariel Sharon Ehud Olmert Tzipi Livni Shaul Mofaz Akram Hasson |
| Founded | 24 November 2005 |
| Split from | Likud, Labor |
| Headquarters | Petah Tikva, Israel |
| Membership (2012) | 96,000 |
| Ideology | Liberalism[1] Zionism Two-state solution |
| Political position | Centre[2] |
| International affiliation | World Zionist Organization Alliance of Democrats |
| Colours | Navy blue, Red and White |
| Most MKs | 29 (2006) |
| Fewest MKs | 2 (2013) |
| Election symbol | |
| כן | |
| Website | |
| kadima.org.il | |
Kadima (Hebrew: קדימה, lit. 'Forward') was a centrist and liberal[3] political party in Israel. It was established on 24 November 2005 by moderates from Likud largely following the implementation of Ariel Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan in August 2005,[4] and was soon joined by like-minded Labor politicians.[5]
With Ehud Olmert as party chairman following Sharon's stroke, it became the largest party in the Knesset after the 2006 elections, winning 29 of the 120 seats, and led a coalition government.
Kadima also won the most seats in the 2009 elections under Tzipi Livni's leadership. It was originally in opposition to the Likud-led coalition government under Benjamin Netanyahu. Kadima was briefly a member of the coalition with Netanyahu, joining the government in May 2012 after striking a deal with Netanyahu;[6] however, Kadima returned to the opposition two months later, leaving the government over a dispute over the Tal Law.[7]
Livni was defeated by the more conservative Shaul Mofaz in the March 2012 leadership election. The party's progressive wing, under Livni's leadership, broke away at the end of 2012 to form the new centre-left Hatnua party.[8][9][10] In the 2013 elections, Kadima became the smallest party in the Knesset, winning only two seats and barely passing the electoral threshold. The party ceased its political activities in March 2015 when it chose to not contest the 2015 elections.
- ^ Anika Gauja; Emilie van Haute (2014). "Members and Activists of Political Parties in Comparative Perspective" (PDF). International Political Science Association World Congress of Political Science – Panel 'What is party membership?'. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
- ^ Sharon Weinblum (2015). Security and Defensive Democracy in Israel: A Critical Approach to Political Discourse. Routledge. p. 10. ISBN 978-1-317-58450-6.
- ^ Emilie van Haute; Anika Gauja (2015). Party Members and Activists. Routledge. p. 17. ISBN 978-1-317-52432-8.
- ^ John Vause; Guy Raz; Shira Medding (22 November 2005). "Sharon shakes up Israeli politics". CNN. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
- ^ Shipman, Tim; Kraft, Dina (14 February 2009). "Obama ready to press Israeli parties to form unity government". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
- ^ Jodi Rudoren, Leader of Israel Centrist Party Kadima Agrees to Join Netanyahu's Coalition, The New York Times (8 May 2012).
- ^ Kadima quits Israel government over conscription law, BBC News (17 July 2012).
- ^ Jonathan Lis (25 July 2012). "Kadima's left flank delays schism due to problems in recruiting enough MKs". Haaretz. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
- ^ Jonathan Lis (24 July 2012). "Haim Ramon seeking to form Kadima breakaway faction under Livni's leadership, sources say". Haaretz. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
- ^ Gil Hoffman (19 July 2012). "Kadima not splitting – for now". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 30 June 2015.