1996 Meretz leadership election

The 1996 Meretz leadership election was held on 22 October 1996.^[1] It saw the election of Yossi Sarid to succeed Shulamit Aloni as the party's leader.^[2] This was the first leadership election in the party's history.^[2] The election was held by a vote of Meretz' Party Council.^[2] Incumbent party leader Aloni had announced her retirement after Sarid had announced his intent to challenge her for party leadership. This came amid disputes between the party's leadership.^[3]

1996 Meretz leadership election

22 October 1996 1999 →

Candidate Yossi Sarid

Meretz leader before election Shulamit Aloni Meretz leader Yossi Sarid

Background

Meretz was formed prior to the 1992 Israeli legislative election by an alliance of three left-wing political parties, Ratz, Mapam and Shinui, and was initially led by Ratz's chairwoman and long-time Knesset member Shulamit Aloni. The party proceeded to win twelve seats in the election, making it the third-largest in the Knesset. Meretz became the major coalition partner of Yitzhak Rabin's Labor Party, helping pave the way for the Oslo Accords.^[4] The party also picked up several ministerial portfolios; Aloni was made Minister of Education, then Minister of Communications and Science and Technology,^[5] while other party members including Amnon Rubinstein, Yossi Sarid and Yair Tzaban received additional portfolios.^[6]