Kleiner first entered the Knesset in 1982 as a Likud parliamentarian, but, upon then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's relinquishing of Hebron to the Palestinian Authority, Kleiner split off from the Likud, along with Benny Begin (Menachem Begin's son) and David Re'em, to establish Herut – The National Movement, based on the original Herut.

They initially ran for the 15th Knesset as part of the National Union block, together with Tkuma and Moledet, but after a poor electoral showing of only four seats, Begin resigned from politics, and Kleiner assumed the party's leadership.

Eventually breaking off from the National Union, Kleiner and Herut failed to be re-elected in the 2003 election.

Michael Kleiner is known for his uncompromising views on retaining territory reclaimed in the 1967 Six-Day War.

Kleiner has consistently acted to thwart the Israeli government's destruction of Jewish communities in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, although he has failed to garner the political support of most religious Israeli settlers.