Who they are
Born in Chernivtsi in 1986 and brought to Israel at five, Rif grew up in Netanya. She served as an officer in military intelligence, took her degrees at the Hebrew University as a State Service cadet, and graduated the Sam Spiegel film school as a screenwriter. She co-founded the Cultural Brigade, which brought Novy God into the Israeli mainstream, and is a poet whose first collection won the Matanel Prize.
Positions and record
Aliyah and absorption: Wants the ulpanim upgraded and employment opened up, and leads the party's absorption platform.
Marriage and status: Campaigns so that the children of Soviet-origin Israelis can marry in Israel, against the Jewishness-status bar affecting hundreds of thousands.
Dignity and bureaucracy: Says she will work so the parents' generation can retire with dignity, fight racism, and cut unnecessary bureaucracy.
Where they stand
Breaks with the party line on 1 issue, marked below.
Judea & Samariaparty lineNo Palestinian state, which Eisenkot has never supported, but a pragmatic approach whose aim is to keep a Jewish majority and stop Israel becoming a binational state.
Two states / withdrawalSovereignty / annexation
Gaza & Securityparty lineA new security doctrine, and an alternative government in Gaza on Israel's terms. Eisenkot pressed for the Rafah operation as leverage for a hostage deal.
Deal & disengagementFull military control
Haredi Enlistmentparty lineEvery citizen is called up, to the army first and to civilian service otherwise, and those who dodge it face prosecution and civil sanctions. Each year no more than 3% of those due to enlist can be exempted, and everyone else serves. The party does not say who would qualify.
Universal draftPreserve exemptions
Judiciaryparty lineA judiciary that is strong, independent and accountable, a Knesset that is sovereign, and a Basic Law: Legislation strengthening the Knesset's own authority.
Court can strike lawsKnesset can override
Economyparty lineWork should pay more than a benefit, with priority always going to those who serve and work. Break up the concentration groups and open the market to parallel imports.
Social spendingFree market
Educationparty lineCore studies are the condition for full public funding, with a national council setting the core, while budget and authority devolve to town halls and to heads.
State runs the schoolsParents and communities
Religion & Statepersonal positionFounded and leads the Lobby of the Million, which calls for recognizing non-Orthodox conversions and marriage paths outside the Rabbinate for the ~350,000 Russian-speaking Israelis barred from marrying here -- well past the party's general "Jewish and democratic" line.
Civil / pluralistReligious authority
Nation & Citizenshipparty lineA solid Jewish majority for generations, with equal rights, duties and opportunities for every Israeli and minority rights named explicitly, in a state that stays Jewish and democratic in the spirit of the Declaration of Independence.
Equal citizenshipJewish national state
