MAPAM

MAPAM: translation

(Mifleget Poalim Hameuhedet—United Workers Party)

Mapam was organized in 1948, whenHashomer Hatzairmerged with radical elements fromAhdut Haavoda. It is a left-wing socialist-Zionistmixed Jewish-Arab political party. From its beginnings, the party was more Marxist thanMapai. The formerAhdut Haavodamembers left in 1954 because of Mapam's pro-Soviet orientation and acceptance ofArabsas party members.Although thepoliticalparty's domestic policy was essentially indistinguishable from Mapai's, Mapam's share of the vote in national elections declined steadily before it joined theAlignmentfor the 1969Knesset election. Mapam ended its alliance with Labor in September 1984 over the issue of the formation of aGovernment of National UnitywithLikud. Its longtime leader wasVictor Shemtov.

Drawing support primarily from the socialistKibbutzMovement as well as segments of the Israeli Arab community, Mapam historically advocated a policy of compromise in relations with thePalestinians. Domestically, it championed freedom ofreligiousexpression among Israeli Jews and the extension of equal rights for all Israelis. In 1992, it joined with theCitizens' Rights and Peace MovementandShinuito form theMeretz/Democratic Israelfaction that won 12 seats in the 13thKnessetand participated in the coalition governments headed byYitzhak Rabin(1992-95) andShimon Peres(1995-96). Mapam and Meretz won 6 seats in the 16th Knesset (2003) and only 5 seats in the 17th Knesset (2006).