Independence (Israeli political party)

The secession was seen as a preemptive move before other Labor MKs acted on their ultimatum to either let Labor leave Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition due to the stalling of a peace process or force Labor's then-chairman Barak to face the consequences within his own party. Splitting the Labor Party enabled Barak to keep a faction of Labor MKs loyal to him within Netanyahu's coalition, preventing the departure of all 13 Labor MKs from the coalition. As of 17 January 2011, the coalition had the support of 66 out of 120 MKs, as compared to 74 prior to that. Since Labor was often an unreliable coalition partner in Knesset voting, the reduced number of MKs did not increase the risk of a no-confidence vote. Netanyahu was singled out by analysts as the biggest winner from the split,[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4015037,00.html Barak saved Netanyahu] Ynetnews, 17 January 2011[http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/netanyahu-barak-s-split-from-labor-strengthens-israel-s-government-1.337508 Netanyahu: Barak's split from Labor strengthens Israel's government] Haaretz, 17 January 2011 and was reported to have been involved in the behind-the-scenes making of the political deal.[http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4014669,00.html Behind the split: Deal between Barak and Netanyahu] Yediot Ahronot 17 January 2011 {{in lang|he}} Barak said that he was tired of infighting within Labor as he accused the rest of the Labor of "moving too far to the dovish end of the political spectrum." The more leftist faction was also wary of Barak's closeness to the Prime Minister Netanyahu.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/world/la-xpm-2012-nov-26-la-fg-israeli-defense-minister-ehud-barak-quits-20121126-story.html |title=Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak to quit politics |author=Edmund Sanders |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=26 November 2012}} Daniel Ben-Simon left the Labor party in protest against Barak's decision to stay with the government.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2011/01/201111772831319356.html|title=Barak quits Israel's Labour party|work=al Jazeera|date=17 January 2011|access-date=29 June 2019}}

MK Einat Wilf mentioned in the press conference: "Not all is our fault, some of it is the Palestinians' fault", referring to the argument leading up to the departure of Independence from the Labor Party.[http://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART2/201/554.html?hp=1&loc=1&tmp=5495 Coalition factions want the portfolios of the Labour Ministers that quit] Maariv (video), 17 January 2011 {{in lang|he}} Wilf also said that the party could not stay united because one faction was moving towards the "far left of Israeli politics," and the other side believed the current government was an effective partnership. However, the remaining members of Labor condemned the move. Eitan Cabel said it would "destroy the party,”{{cite web |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/141771 |title=Barak Splits Labor Party, Will Remain Defense Minister |author=Ben Gedalyahu, Tzvi |date=17 January 2011 |work=Israel National News |publisher=Arutz Sheva |access-date=17 January 2011}} whilst Shelly Yachimovich called it "a corrupt and opportunistic move, designed to save Barak's seat in the government. He has brought a catastrophe upon Labor."{{cite web |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/141772 |title=Barak Says Labor Pulled Leftward |author=Fendel, Hillel |date=17 January 2011 |work=Israel National News |publisher=Arutz Sheva |access-date=17 January 2011}} Daniel Ben-Simon had stated prior to the split that he would become an independent MK because of Labor's continued position in the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Avishai Braverman, Minister of Minorities, and Isaac Herzog, Minister of Social Affairs, also intended to resign following the split.

In a move to avoid the months of bureaucracy involved in registering a new party, Barak negotiated a takeover of the Third Way with its leader Avigdor Kahalani. The Third Way had held seats in the Knesset between 1996 and 1999, and although had effectively ceased functioning after losing them in the 1999 elections, it had remained a registered party.[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4066451,00.html Barak readies to launch Independence Party] Yediot Ahronot, 9 May 2011 The Knesset Committee approved the request of Independence to take over the Third Way party, a decision needed for it to receive funding from the state.[http://www.inn.co.il/News/News.aspx/218330 סיעת העצמאות הופכת למפלגה], Arutz Sheva, 13 April 2011 {{in lang|he}}

The founding conference of the party was held in May 2011 with eighty members in attendance. The conference approved the party's statute and the appointment of Barak as chairman. In September 2011 the faction's name was officially changed to "The Independence Party" through the national party registrar.[http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=215696 Barak’s Independence faction now a party] The Jerusalem Post, 8 April 2011 In February 2012, Minister Matan Vilnai resigned his post in the cabinet and the Knesset in order to become the Israeli Ambassador to China, and Shachiv Shnaan was sworn in instead.{{Cite web |last=Bender |first=Arik |date=2014-12-19 |title=כמה עולה להיות ח"כ של העבודה? נפסל מועמד שסירב לשלם דמי רצינות גבוהים |url=https://www.maariv.co.il/חדשות/בחירות-2015/כמה-עולה-להיות-חכ-של-העבודה-נפסל-מועמד-שסירב-לשלם-דמי-רצינות-גבוהים-457187 |access-date=2023-01-29 |website=Maariv |language=he}}

A day after the party's formation, four of its five Knesset members were given ministerial positions; Barak remained Minister of Defence, Vilnai was given the new post of Minister for the Home Front, Noked became Minister of Agriculture and Simhon became Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor and Minister of Minorities[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4015200,00.html Labor dissidents get 4 portfolios] Ynetnews, 18 January 2011 without their party having the benefit of having participating in an election.

File:Ehud Barak at Pentagon, 11-2009.jpg

Six people represented the party in the Knesset:

• Ehud Barak
• Matan Vilnai – resigned and replaced by Shachiv Shnaan
• Shalom Simhon
• Orit Noked
• Einat Wilf

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.haatzmaut.org.il/ Official website] {{in lang|he}}
• [https://www.knesset.gov.il/faction/eng/FactionPageCurrent_eng.asp?PG=205 Independence] Knesset website

{{Israeli political parties}}

Category:Defunct political parties in Israel

Category:Political parties established in 2011

Category:Zionist political parties in Israel

Category:2011 establishments in Israel

Category:Centrist parties in Israel