The newly-formed Liberal Center Party, led by Tel Aviv Mayor Shlomo Lahat and Jewish Agency Chairman Leon Dulzin, has issued its political platform — demonstrating a basically moderate line on foreign policy.
Following day-long deliberations by the leadership in Tel Aviv last Thursday, the party announced that it was opposed to annexation of the administered areas, and was opposed to a “binational state” which would result from such annexation. Israel, the party declared, must be a Jewish and Zionist state.
While Israel had an historic right over the territories, it should be prepared to give up territories for peace, the party said. Jerusalem, however, is not a matter for negotiation. The party also rejected out of hand the creation of an independent Palestinian state between Israel and Jordan. The platform also stressed the equality of all Israeli citizens regardless of religion, race or sex.
The platform is thus close to that of the Labor Party and the new group must therefore be considered a potential partner of Labor, rather than of Likud — if it succeeds in winning seats in the Knesset.
Other party leaders include former Likud-Liberal Minister Yitzhak Berman (who resigned from the Cabinet over the Lebanon war), and former Likud-Liberal Deputy Minister Yehezkel Flomin.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
