The political dance of a party that keeps coming back

Cultures · Published 1 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the volatile landscape of Israeli politics, New Hope serves as a masterclass in strategic realignments. From forming as a breakaway faction to merging with giants and returning to government seats, its history reveals how ideological labels can shift to navigate the complexities of power.

Founded on December 8, 2020, by former Likud minister Gideon Sa'ar, New Hope (Tikva Hadasha) emerged as a national-liberal party. It quickly gathered weight by absorbing several MKs from the Derekh Eretz and Likud parties, including figures like Yoaz Hendel and Zvi Hauser. The party’s identity is rooted in a specific vision: it views Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people while championing military strength, technological expansion, and support for Jewish immigration.

The party's trajectory highlights the fluid nature of Israeli coalitions. In 2021, it entered a surplus-vote agreement with Yamina, but by July 2022, it pivoted to form a joint list called National Unity with Benny Gantz’s Blue and White. This alliance eventually joined the Thirty-seventh government in October 2023 following the Hamas-led attack on Israel. However, internal friction led Sa'ar to briefly pull the party into opposition in March 2024 after being denied a cabinet spot, only for the party to rejoin the Netanyahu government in September 2024 with Sa'ar becoming Foreign Minister.

Beyond high-level maneuvering, New Hope advocates for specific structural reforms. They propose a partially mixed economy with a subsidized capitalist focus, term limits of eight years for prime ministers, and increased powers for local governments. Interestingly, despite its right-wing leanings, the party also supports social progressivism, including LGBT rights and the legalization of cannabis. This blend of national-liberalism and specific economic reforms defines their attempt to bridge social divisions within the nation.

The party's future remains in a state of transition. While a merger agreement with Likud was signed in March 2025—with approval by the Likud Central Committee in August 2025—the Knesset House committee had not approved the move as of July 2026. This period also saw internal fractures, such as Sharren Haskel’s resignation and subsequent formation of a new party, 'Israel First,' illustrating the constant friction between individual ideological purity and collective political survival.

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