Maki (political party)

Rakah was formed on 1 September 1965 due to internal disagreements in the original Maki, which was split between a largely Jewish and Zionist faction led by Moshe Sneh that was critical of the Soviet Union's anti-Zionist stance, and a largely Arab faction that was increasingly anti-Zionist. As a result, the pro-Arab / pro-Soviet faction (including Emile Habibi, Tawfik Toubi and Meir Vilner) left Maki to form a new party, Rakah, which the Soviet Union recognised as the "official" communist party in Israel. Shlomo Sand and Mahmoud Darwish were also Rakah activists. The Eurocommunist faction, led by Sneh, remained in Maki. It was reported in the Soviet media that the Mikunis–Sneh group defected to the bourgeois-nationalist camp. The 1965 Israeli legislative election saw Rakah party win three seats, comprehensively beating Maki as it slumped to just one. Rakah's opposition to Zionism and the Six-Day War meant that they were excluded from the national unity governments of the sixth Knesset. In the 1969 Israeli legislative election Rakah again won three seats. During the 1973 Israeli legislative election Rakah saw a rise in support as the party picked up four seats. addresses Rakah's 1976 convention Before the 1977 elections the party joined with some other small left-wing and Arab parties, including some members of the Israeli Black Panthers to form Hadash. After the original Maki had disappeared after merging into Ratz in 1981, members of Rakah decided to change the party's name to Maki in 1989. The party remains the leading force in Hadash, and publishes the Al-Ittihad and Zo HaDerekh newspapers. == Ideology and positions ==

Marxist-Leninist foundations Maki is an anti-Zionist, Marxist–Leninist communist party. Organizationally, the party operates on the principle of democratic centralism, which it describes as a fusion of central policy execution and inner-party democracy. The party defines itself as a revolutionary working-class movement aiming for a transition from capitalism to socialism. According to its constitution, Maki views late capitalism, globalization, and American imperialism as the root causes of global environmental destruction, social injustice, and the erosion of workers' rights.It envisions socialism not as a static system, but as a dynamically developing, humanistic society featuring working-class rule, social ownership of major production means, democratic economic planning, and political pluralism. The party similarly rejects what it terms "Arab reaction," emphasizing an internationalist, class-based division of society over national divisions. Israeli-Palestinian conflict and foreign policy Historically, the party states it was the first in Israel to propose a two-state solution. Maki advocates for the transformation of Israel into a secular, multiethnic state. In an interview with the American socialist magazine Jacobin on 17 November 2023, Eli Gozansky, a Jewish member of the party leadership, opined on whether the creation of one binational state was possible: Furthermore, the party is staunchly anti-militarist. It supports the right to conscientious objectionand calls for the regional disarmament of weapons of mass destruction, urging Israel to sign the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Domestic and social policies Domestically, Maki's platform calls for the recognition of Arab citizens of Israel as a national minority and demands full civic and national equality, including an egalitarian citizenship law. The party also emphasizes intersectional social struggles, advocating for full women's rights and an end to gender-based violence, as well as equality for Mizrahi communities. Maki supports the complete separation of religion and state, advocating for freedom of conscience, the abolition of religious coercion, and the right to freely choose between secular and religious lifestyles. == Leadership ==

In accordance with the principle of democratic centralism, the party is collectively led by its Central Committee and Politburo. Within this structure, the highest operational position is the General Secretary (also referred to as the Secretary General). From its formation as Rakah in 1965 until 1990, the party was led by Meir Vilner. In 1990, Tawfik Toubi succeeded him, becoming the party's first Arab General Secretary. Since June 2015, the position has been held by the incumbent General Secretary, Adel Amer. List of General Secretaries ==Election results==