(Hebrew for "vitality") An
Israeli political party. Formed in 1992 with the merger of the Shinui, Mapam and Ratz parties and officially registered in 1996. Meretz is considered a left-wing social democratic party that continues to call for a negotiated end to
Israel's occupation of the
Palestinian Territories, human rights for all of Israel's citizens as well as freedom from religion. As of 2014, Meretz, has six seats in the Israeli
Knesset. See "
Meretz," YNet News, February 4, 2008.