Democratic Union Party

On July 25, 2019, Meretz agreed to form a joint list – the Democratic Union – with the new Democratic Israel Party created by former Labor Prime Minister Ehud Barak. “The Israeli left is back to being a strong, attractive and influential force,” said Meretz leader Nitzan Horowitz, who will head the new list. Horowitz promised to revoke the nation-state law and “enhance equality, protect democracy, maintain free press, support human rights organizations and strive for peace, for a political solution.” He added, “A diplomatic solution is not only possible, but essential.”

Horowitz said he would not serve in a government led by Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Labor Party did not join the Democratic Union, but the new coalition recruited rising Labor Party star Stav Shaffir who was given the number two slot on the list. Barak would only be number ten, but other members of his party would be given the third, seventh, ninth, 14th and 15th spots; other positions were being saved for other potential Labor defectors.

Chaim Levinson and Bar Peleg, “Democratic Union Leaders Launch Campaign: Left Has Never Been Stronger; Netanyahu – Your Time Is Up,” Haaretz, (July 25, 2019).