GAHAL

In 1965,Herutwas joined by the formerGeneral Zionistsin theIndependent Liberal Partyto form the parliamentary bloc Gahal (acronym for Gush Herut Liberalim—Bloc of Herut and the Liberals) under the leadership ofMenachem Begin. The Gahal Agreement was signed on 25 April 1965. Among other elements, the agreement fixed the ratio of Herut and Liberal members of parliament and the placement of candidates from the two parties on the Ga-hal election (seeKNESSET ELECTIONS) list. Each of the parties got 11 of the first 22 slots on the list, with Herut getting the 1st, the Liberals the 2nd, and so on. From that point to the 40th position, Herut got 11 seats and the Liberals got 7. From that point on, the agreement again provides for one each. This complex arrangement was disrupted by the joint electoral list involvingLikud,Tsomet, andGesherfor the 1996 election. Gahal joined theGovernment of National Unityformed on the eve of theSix-Day Warand was represented in the cabinet by Begin and Joseph Saphir. Likud (Unity) was formed in 1973 as a parliamentary bloc by the combination of Gahal and La'am (Toward the People), and Begin retained his dominant role. The activities of Herut have been integrated into the Likud Party.

See alsoPolitical parties.