DEMOCRATIC FRONT FOR PEACE AND EQUALITY

Democratic Front for Peace and Equality: translation

(Hadash)

In 1977, Rakah (see COMMUNIST PARTY; NEW COMMUNIST LIST [RAKAH]) and some members of the IsraeliBlack Panthersjoined to form the Hadash (acronym for Hazit Demokratit Leshalom Uleshivyon)political party. Hadash, the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality, contestedKnesset electionsbeginning in 1977.Its program has called for Israeli withdrawal from all the territories occupied in theSix-Day War, the establishment of an independentPalestinianstate, recognition of thePalestine Liberation Organization(PLO) as the representative of the Palestinians, and a number of measures to improve the situation of the disadvan-taged classes in Israel. The party won five seats in the 14thKnesset(1996) and three seats in the 15th Knesset (1999). Hadash—in coalition withTa'al(Arab Movement for Change), headed byAhmed Tibi—won three seats in the 2003 election and three in 2006.

See alsoArab Political Parties; Arabs in Israel.