Formed in 2024 through the merger of the historic Labor Party and the far-left Meretz Party, the Democrats are positioning themselves as a key player in Israel’s upcoming 26th Knesset elections scheduled for October 27. Led by former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) deputy chief of staff and former Meretz MK Yair Golan, the party identifies with the left and is part of the opposition bloc seeking to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Democrats emerged in response to electoral setbacks suffered by both predecessor parties in 2022, when Labor won just four seats and Meretz failed to pass the electoral threshold. The union aims to consolidate the left-wing vote to prevent further fragmentation and strengthen democratic representation. Currently, the party is polling at an estimated 9 to 11 Knesset seats.
The party's candidate list reflects a diverse composition, including 17 individuals active in protest movements and public advocacy, 12 former IDF officers, 11 with civil service backgrounds, 19 women, nine candidates under 45, eight former Knesset members, four Arab candidates, three Druze candidates, and two members of the LGBTQ community. Notably, it employs a gender-based “zipper system,” alternating men and women on its slate to ensure balanced representation.
Historically, Labor traces its roots to the labor Zionist movement that dominated Israeli politics from the state’s founding through the 1970s, associated with prime ministers David Ben-Gurion, Golda Meir, and Yitzhak Rabin, particularly during the Oslo peace process era. Meretz originated from peace movements in the early 1990s, emphasizing a two-state solution, civil rights, secularism, and social democracy.
The Democrats’ platform centers on what Golan terms “fundamental change” in Israel’s political system, with a focus on democracy, judicial independence, and government accountability. Golan has proposed legislation barring individuals under criminal indictment from serving as prime minister or ministers. The party openly opposes the current government’s attempts to restructure the judiciary, voicing support for Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara amid efforts by the government to dismiss her. It has criticized National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s approach, particularly concerning law enforcement and rising crime in the Arab sector.
Religious-secular issues also figure prominently in the Democrats' agenda. Golan advocates protecting individual freedoms related to religion, including the right of businesses to operate on Shabbat where permitted by law and recognition of civil marriages outside the Chief Rabbinate. The party loudly opposes haredi draft exemptions and seeks religious pluralism.
On security and diplomatic matters, the Democrats oppose West Bank annexation and settlement expansion, condemning what they describe as an increase in settler violence against Palestinians. They pledge to halt funding for newly established outposts deemed illegal and propose reinstating military control over the area, rolling back the civilian administration led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. While the party supports diplomatic efforts over military escalation, especially following the October 7 attacks, it continues to uphold a two-state solution as a foundational policy, with some members suggesting a demilitarized Palestinian state within a broader regional framework.
In coalition considerations, the Democrats have ruled out partnering with Netanyahu’s Likud and have also declined alliances with ultra-Orthodox parties. Unlike many opposition groups, they openly endorse the inclusion of Arab parties such as Ra’am in a future government, framing such participation as democratic and appropriate, thereby setting themselves apart from other opposition leaders who reject this idea in the post-October 7 political climate.
The party has identified key ministries it aims to seek in coalition negotiations, including Defense, Justice, Education, National Security, and Communications, with a mandate centered on democratic reforms, judicial independence, Arab political representation, and countering what it describes as harmful policies of previous Netanyahu administrations. While some economic and diplomatic specifics remain less defined, the Democrats emphasize restoring the rule of law and strengthening Israel’s democratic institutions as their primary objectives.