Akademik

(Maarach)

   A political bloc formed in 1965 between the Mapai and Ahdut Haavoda parties. In 1968, it joined with Rafi to form the Israel Labor Party. An alignment subsequently was formed with Mapam to contest the election of the seventh Knesset, although both Mapam and the Israel Labor Party retained their own organizations and memberships. The Alignment led Israel's government coalitions between 1965 and 1977, when it lost the Knesset election and became the opposition in parliament. In September 1984, it joined in the Government of National Unity with Likud. As a consequence, Mapam and Yossi Sarid of the Labor Party withdrew from the Alignment, while Ezer Weizman's Yahad Party joined the Alignment.

   See also Political parties.