Democratization Process in Israel Parties: The Herut Movement Before 1977

Contrary to the conventional thesis that focuses on the Herut movement and the description of the `Mahapach` mainly in describing Menachem Begin`s portrayal, we argue that it was Yitzhak Shamir who founded and established a new model of the distribution of power within the Herut movement. By that, Shamir opened a wide door for integration of previously unpowered political forces. Shamir`s integrative model, which mainly opened new possibilities for Mizrahim - immigrants from Asia and North Africa, allowed the party to design an internal makeover that was, in our opinion, a central platform for the possibility of the dramatic political upheaval of May 1977. The characteristics and significance of the internal upheaval in the freedom movement will be discussed in this lecture. The 1977 description of the upheaval was frequently explained by the argument about the connection between Menachem Begin, the leader of the Herut Movement, and the Mizrahi. A bond formed between the charismatic leader speaking to his admirers in the city squares. This claim is based on the formation of a historical alliance throughout its existence and the founding of the Herut movement between the "rejected" - members of the Herut Movement and the "deprived" - members of the Eastern community. This argument found on the "Mass Leader" relationship an explanation for the transition of Mizrahi political support throughout the 1970s from labor movement support.









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