Eretz Yisrael Shelanu

Eretz Yisrael Shelanu (Hebrew: ארץ ישראל שלנו, lit., Land of Israel is Ours) is a far-right religious party in Israel.[1][2][3] Founded by Chabad Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpo and Baruch Marzel[4] on 11 November 2008, it seeks to prevent both the creation of a Palestinian state as well as the dismantling of Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Eretz Yisrael Shelanu
ארץ ישראל שלנו
LeaderShalom Dov Wolpo
Founded11 November 2008
IdeologyReligious Zionism
Religious conservatism
Social conservatism
Ultranationalism
Political positionFar-right
AllianceNational Union (2009-2013)
Most MKs1 (2009–2012)
Fewest MKs1 (2009–2012)
Election symbol
קי
Website
www.sos-israel.com

History

Logo used previously by the party

In 2008, in anticipation of the 2009 Knesset elections, Wolpe and his party merged with Baruch Marzel's Jewish National Front. The Knesset list was topped by Wolpe, Marzel, and Israeli musician Ariel Zilber. In the weeks prior to the election, the joint list agreed to run as part of the National Union list, with Michael Ben-Ari, its representative, taking the 4th spot on the alliance's list. The Union won four seats, allowing Ben-Ari to enter the Knesset.

On 27 October 2010, violence broke out at the town of Umm al-Fahm between Eretz Yisrael Shelanu marchers and Arab counter-protesters.[5]

In 2012, Ben-Ari and Aryeh Eldad of Hatikva, another member party of the National Union, announced their decision to leave the alliance and form Otzma LeYisrael.[6] Ben-Ari left Eretz Yisrael Shelanu, and formed Otzma Yehudit[7] and leading up to the 2013 Knesset elections, party leader Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpo announced his support of HaBayit HaYehudi. Subsequently, leading Haredi rabbis Ya'akov Yosef and David Meir Drukman announced cessation of support of Eretz Yisrael Shelanu.[citation needed]

In April 2019 Knesset elections, Rafi Levengrond - father of a murder victim in Barkan shooting terror attack Kim Levengrond-Yehezkel, used the party as a 'Shelf Party' to run his own list for the Knesset.[8][9] In the September 2019 Knesset elections Avi Yalou used the party as a 'shelf party' to run for the Knesset with his own list called "Tsedek" ("Justice" in Hebrew).[10][11]

Leaders


LeaderTook officeLeft office
Shalom Dov Wolpo20082015

Election results

ElectionLeaderVotes%Seats+/–Status
2009Shalom Dov Wolpo112,570 (#8)
(As part of National Union)
3.34
1 / 120
NewOpposition
2013Shalom Dov WolpoDid not contestExtraparliamentary
2015Shalom Dov WolpoDid not contestExtraparliamentary
April 2019Rafi Levengrond701 (#27)0.02
0 / 120
0Extraparliamentary
September 2019Avi Yalou3,053 (#14)0.07
0 / 120
0Extraparliamentary

References