This sticker was produced during the election campaign of 1999 by the Yisrael Ahat (One Israel) party – a union between the Labour Party, Meimad and Gesher. The sticker reads “Ehud will take us out of Lebanon” and refers to the promise made by Ehud Barak that should he become the prime minister, one of his first steps would be to withdraw Israeli troops from southern Lebanon.
Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982 in order to stop the bombardment of its northern communities close to the border. From the end of the First Lebanese War to 2000, the IDF occupied a security belt in southern Lebanon in order to prevent terrorists from gathering near the Israeli border. During this period the IDF suffered many losses, and the presence of IDF troops in Lebanon was becoming increasingly unpopular among the Israeli public. Ehud Barak made the promise to evacuate Lebanon a cornerstone of his election campaign, and within a year of becoming prime minister, he successfully led the evacuation of Israeli troops from Lebanese territory in 2000.
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First Lebanon War – The Lebanon War, also known as Operation Peace for Galilee, was the Israeli response as of 1982 to bombardments by PLO forces based in Lebanon. The war was supposed to be a short-term military operation, and indeed the beginning of the war was very successful for Israel. However, as the IDF continued to the north and approached Beirut, heavy fighting occurred. The IDF that was joined by the Christian Phalanges seized the Lebanese capital and the PLO was forced to leave the city. However, internal disputes brought upon the assassination of leader of the Christian forces, Bashir Gemayel, and the massacre of Sabra and Shatila. The war resulted in thousands of casualties in the war and in the eighteen years that the IDF occupied parts of Lebanon. It also resulted in the expulsion of the PLO from Lebanon and the creation of a security zone in Southern Lebanon. The war also reinforced Syrian influence in Lebanon, resulting in the collapse of Israeli relations with the Maronites (Lebanese Christians). By 2000, Israel still maintained a presence in Southern Lebanon, although this was becoming less and less popular within Israeli society, as seen in the large-scale protests and the foundation of the Peace Now movement. The political pressure resulting from these events is said to have caused Menachem Begin to resign from his post as prime minister.
Ehud Barak – Ehud Barak is one of the most highly decorated soldiers in Israeli history, which culminated in his appointment as chief of staff in 1991. He entered politics in 1995, serving in various positions, including minister of defence, and becoming prime minister in 1999. He only held this position until 2001, when he resigned from frontline politics after losing to Ariel Sharon in the prime ministerial elections. He returned to politics as the Labour party leader from 2007 to 2011. In 2012, Barak resigned from his political career and has since led a business and consultancy career.
Elections in Israel – Israel is a democratic country, and general elections for the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, take place, according to the law, once every four years. The nationwide elections are based on a multi-party, proportional representation system. The legal voting age in Israel is 18, and all Israeli citizens from sectors may vote and be elected. Using voting slips with the initials of the parties, citizens vote for their preferred party and not for individual candidates. The 120 seats in the Knesset are then assigned proportionally to the parties according to the number of votes received. After the elections, the president of Israel chooses the leader of the largest party or of the party that is most likely to form a viable coalition government. This leader then forms a government, the Knesset gives it a vote of confidence, and the leader then becomes prime minister.
