Political party

Lore & Background

The idea of people forming large groups or factions to advocate for their shared interests is ancient. Plato mentions the political factions of Classical Athens in the Republic, and Aristotle discusses the tendency of different types of government to produce factions in the Politics. Certain ancient disputes were also factional, like the Nika riots between two chariot racing factions at the Hippodrome of Constantinople. However, modern political parties are considered to have emerged around the end of the 18th century, first appearing in Europe and the United States of America. Some scholars argue that the first modern political parties developed in early modern Britain in the 17th century, after the Exclusion Crisis and the Glorious Revolution. The Whig faction organized around support for Protestant constitutional monarchy, while the conservative Tory faction supported a strong monarchy. The Rockingham Whigs have been identified as the first modern political party because they retained a coherent party label and motivating principles even while out of power. At the end of the 18th century, the United States developed a party system called the First Party System, with the Federalist Party and the Democratic-Republican Party emerging from controversies over federal government powers. By the early 19th century, a number of countries had developed stable modern party systems. The party system that developed in Sweden has been called the world's first party system. In many European countries, political parties organized around a liberal-conservative divide or around religious disputes. At the beginning of the 20th century, the liberal–conservative divide was disrupted by the emergence of socialist parties, which attracted the support of organized trade unions. During decolonization in the mid-20th century, many newly sovereign countries developed party systems that often emerged from their independence movements.

Reader's Guide

Political parties are central to modern governance, structuring competition for political offices across democracies and autocracies alike. They streamline political decision-making by encouraging members to cooperate and can develop from existing societal divisions, such as those between lower and upper classes. Parties typically include a leader, executives, and members, and their contributions are often regulated by law. While many parties are motivated by ideological goals—such as liberalism, conservatism, socialism, communism, populism, nationalism, or Islamism—others may focus on patronage, clientelism, or advancing a specific political entrepreneur. The distinction between parties and other political groups lies in their focus on electing candidates. Over the last few centuries, party systems have evolved from early factions in Britain and the United States to stable systems in Sweden and elsewhere, later expanding globally through decolonization. The presence of multiple parties is often considered essential to democracy, though autocracies frequently have a single governing party. Political parties remain a defining feature of almost every country's political landscape.

Did You Know?

• Some scholars argue that the first modern political parties developed in early modern Britain in the 17th century, after the Exclusion Crisis and the Glorious Revolution.
• The Rockingham Whigs have been identified as the first modern political party because they retained a coherent party label and motivating principles even while out of power.
• The party system that developed in Sweden has been called the world's first party system.
• The formation of the Indian National Congress foreshadowed the dynamic in many newly independent countries, where pro-independence factions became major political parties.

Founding and the Meaning Behind the Name

In the summer of 2025, former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot made a decisive break from the political establishment. After publicly criticizing National Unity leader Benny Gantz for tightly controlling the party's primary process rather than opening it to full membership, Eisenkot announced his resignation from the Knesset in June. By September, he had formally launched Yashar, a centrist party built around a promise to repair, heal, and restore hope for Israeli citizens while placing security and national interests at the forefront. The party's name, drawn from a Hebrew word meaning straight, honest, or truthful, carries a poignant origin. According to MK Matan Kahana, the inspiration came from former Gaza War hostage Eli Sharabi, who observed that the fight to bring captives home was not a matter of political left or right but of going straight. Eisenkot expressed willingness to merge with other factions to preserve Israel as a Jewish, democratic, and strong state. Opposition figures Yair Lapid and Yair Golan both voiced support for the new venture, signaling broad recognition that a credible centrist alternative to Netanyahu's Likud was taking shape.

The 2026 Campaign and Coalition Strategy

The campaign has not been without incident. Party member Ilan Mans was physically assaulted while attempting to remove a banner demanding the release of Yigal Amir, the man who assassinated Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. On the coalition front, Haaretz reported in August that Eisenkot was prepared to lead a minority government if Zionist opposition parties fell short of the 61-seat majority threshold. Yisrael Beiteinu's Avigdor Lieberman swiftly rejected participation in such an arrangement. Meanwhile, Eisenkot made overtures toward Shas, inviting member Tzuriel Krispel to join the Yashar slate. Krispel declined, and Shas leadership expressed concern that Eisenkot's appeal could siphon their traditional Sephardi voter base. Despite these challenges, the party has actively prepared contingency plans for governing without a full majority.

A Roster Spanning Security, Business, and Politics

Yashar's leadership bench reflects a deliberate blend of military, governmental, civic, and private-sector experience. The founding core included Shir Siegel, daughter of former hostages Keith and Aviva Siegel; Yoav Horowitz, who had served as Netanyahu's own chief of staff; and former MKs Matan Kahana, Tal Russo, and Manuel Trajtenberg. The group also featured business and cultural figures such as Nir Zohar of Wix, former general Yishai Beer, and film producer Yariv Mozer. Former Blue and White MK Orit Farkash-Hacohen and Ramat Gan Deputy Mayor Israel Zari joined the list, alongside senior government officials like former Ministry of Finance budget chief Shaul Meridor and former Welfare Ministry chief of staff Inbar Yehezkeli. Security veterans Yoram Cohen, former Shin Bet director, and Kamil Abu Rokon, former COGAT chief, added depth on the defense side. On August 10, Shirel Hogeg, CEO of am pm, was added, and on August 24, former Yesh Atid MK Elazar Stern and former Kulanu MK Roy Folkman completed a roster that signals a broad, cross-ideological coalition of experience.

Ten Steps Toward 2048

At the top sits a state commission to investigate the October 7 attacks and support victim rehabilitation. Security measures include a systemic national strategy to strengthen the IDF, fortify borders, and expand what the party calls a circle of peace. A particularly contentious step calls for integrating Haredi and Arab Israelis into military service to equalize the burden of national defense. Education policy envisions a core curriculum rooted in the Declaration of Independence alongside decentralized governance and expanded technology studies. On the economic front, the platform addresses cost of living by integrating all citizens into labor markets, investing in transportation, healthcare, and the periphery, and providing incentives to those bearing security burdens. Democratic reforms include term limits for the prime minister, protection of minority and human rights, and preservation of judicial independence. The overarching vision is a prosperous model state built on partnership and mutual responsibility.