The Likud is a center-right party, whose roots can be traced back to the teachings of Ze'ev Jabotinsky and Revisionist Zionism.
These teachings were the base for the formation of the Herut movement by Menachem Begin upon Israel's establishment.
With time, Herut joined forces with the Liberal movement, and in 1973 allied with other political elements present in the 1970s, such as the Free Centre, the National List and the Movement for Greater Israel, and was renamed the Likud.
In 1977, the party won 45 Knesset seats in the elections and for the first time rose to power. In 1979, Begin signed the peace treaty with Egypt. In 1982, a Likud-led government initiated the Lebanon War, eventually prompting Begin to resign and quit public life. His replacement Yitzhak Shamir formed
a national unity government with Labor.
Sahmir's leadership of the Likud was followed by the first tenure of Benjamin Netanyahu,
who was elected Israeli prime minister in 1996, following the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin.
Netanyahu was followed by Ariel Sharon,
a prominent Likud figure since its inception. Sharon was elected prime minister in 2001, but left the Likud in 2005 to form Kadima. Netanyahu was reelected Likud chair in December 2005.
- Israel will not allow the establishment of an Arab Palestinian state west of the Jordan River. The Palestinians will be able to manage their lives freely in the framework of an autonomous regime, but not as a sovereign, independent state.
- The Jordan River will be the State of Israel's permanent border.
- Jerusalem is the Jewish people's everlasting capital; it will not be divided, nor will any negotiation to the effect be conducted. Israel will continue to push for the expansion of Jewish neighborhoods in east Jerusalem. Israel will ensure the freedom of religion and faith as well as free access to all holy places in Jerusalem, for all religions. The boosting of Jewish settlement activity in the Golan Heights will continue.
- Israel's defense, safety and security will be top priority in any political negotiation or agreement. Israel will maintain all its security assets in order to ensure its ability to defend itself in times of crisis.
- The Likud pledges to continue to strive for peace with all of it neighbors, while stressing security Israel's safety and security as a benchmark guideline to Mideast peace.
- Israel will spare no effort in ensuring the return of all its missing and captive soldiers; Israel will continue to work for the pardon of Jonathan Pollard.
- Israel will strive for a free economy while integrating into the global village, encouraging privatization and greater exposure to competition; a greater effort will be made to conserved the environment and improving infrastructure; additional government assistance will be offered in order to expand the job market and minimize unemployment; and more foreign currency, energy, tax, health and welfare reforms will be introduced.
- The Likud will work towards boosting Jewish, Zionist, and national elements at schools and the educational system both in the Jewish sector and the Arab and Druze sectors alike.