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

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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

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Leader Took office Left office
  Shalom Dov Wolpo 2008 2015

Election results

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Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Status
2009 Shalom Dov Wolpo 112,570 (#8)
(As part of National Union)
3.34
1 / 120
New Opposition
2013 Shalom Dov Wolpo Did not contest Extraparliamentary
2015 Shalom Dov Wolpo Did not contest Extraparliamentary
April 2019 Rafi Levengrond 701 (#27) 0.02
0 / 120
  0 Extraparliamentary
September 2019 Avi Yalou 3,053 (#14) 0.07
0 / 120
  0 Extraparliamentary

References

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  1. ^ Moledet breaks from newly formed Bayit Hayehudi The Jerusalem Post, 18 December 2008
  2. ^ Profile: Our Land of Israel Al-Jazeera, 27 October 2010
  3. ^ Israeli police clash with Arab youths The Guardian, 27 October 2010
  4. ^ Efrat Weiss. Marzel, Rabbi Wolpo to run for Knesset. YNet News 15 December 2008
  5. ^ Profile: Our Land of Israel. MWC News, 28 October 2010
  6. ^ "Ben-Ari Leaves National Union, Will Run with Eldad". Arutz 7. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  7. ^ "Eldad, Ben-Ari form new party: Strong Israel". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  8. ^ Hezki Baruch (21 February 2019). "Running for the Knesset in memory of his murdered daughter". Israel National News.
  9. ^ Gideon Allon (22 February 2019). "Israeli election shifts into high gear after filing deadline expires". Israel Hayom.
  10. ^ Wootliff, Raoul (2 August 2019). "32 parties register electoral slates for September vote, down from 47 last time". The Times of Israel.
  11. ^ "Know Your "Enemy"". Jewish Currents. 19 August 2019.