Ahi (political party)

Ahi ( _he. אח"י, an acronym for "Eretz Hevra Yahadut" ( _he. ארץ חברה יהדות), lit. "Land, Society, Judaism") is a right-wing nationalist religious Zionist political party in Israel. It is currently part of the National Union alliance. [ [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1202246357040 New party starts 'Anglo' registration drive] The Jerusalem Post, 9 February 2008]

History

The party was created when Effi Eitam and Yitzhak Levi split from the National Religious Party during the 16th Knesset. The split resulted from opposition to Zevulun Orlev's faction in the party, after he had refused to resign from the government following its approval of the disengagement plan. The split occurred when Eitam was suspended as chairman of the party after it failed to approve his suggestion to unite with National Union in order to form a large right wing-nationalist Religious Zionist party.

Eitam and Levi originally named their party the "Religious Zionist" (Hebrew: הציונות הדתית, "HaTzionut HaDatit"), but due to objections from the NRP that its name was too broad, a discussion at the party registrar resulted in the party being renamed the "Connection Faction" (Hebrew: סיעת התחברות, "Siat Hitkhabrut"). The party's final name listed in the party registry was the Renewed Religious National Zionist Party (Hebrew: מפלגת ציונות דתית לאומית מתחדשת, "Miflaget Tzionut Datit Leumit Mithadeshet").

On 1 August 2005 the party joined the National Union alongside Tkuma and Moledet to participate in the 2006 election, and were joined at the last minute by the National Religious Party. The list won nine seats, of which the Renewed Religious National Zionist Party took two.

On 11 November 2007 the party was renamed Ahi.

Ideology

Ideologically, the party subscribes to Greater Israel, supports the Israeli settlement drive in Gaza and the West Bank. It vehemently opposes disengagement from West Bank, but opposes violence and civil disobedience against the IDF, and calls to respect the rule of law. The party platform also emphasizes on fighting government corruption, and more recently, also promoting social justice. The movement is supported by Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, who could be seen as its spiritual leader, whilst Nobel Prize winner Robert Aumann is the party's scientific advisor.

References

External links

* [http://www.hamifkad.org.il/index.asp?catID=1377&siteLang=2 Official website]
* [http://www.knesset.gov.il/faction/eng/FactionPage_eng.asp?PG=179 Party history] Knesset website en icon