Founders of the new HaTikva party that was launched Monday night said the party's platform will support serving in the armed forces or national service as a condition for voting. The party also is against the establishment of a new Arab state within the current borders of Israel.
Improving the environment and utilizing alternate energy sources also will be planks in the platform of the party which described itself as being neither secular nor religious.
Knesset Member Aryeh Eldad denied that he will leave the National Union in order to join HaTikva, saying he will decide whether to join HaTikva when the next elections take place.