The two main parties that are to form the new, as yet nameless, religious-nationalist umbrella party have formally approved the deal. The NRP Central Committee approved its dissolution by a wide majority on Tuesday afternoon, shortly after Tekumah, of the National Union, made a similar decision.
National Religious Party leader MK Zevulun Orlev told the Committee members that they need not fear the disintegration of the once-proud party: “The united party is a continuation of the NRP, just as the NRP was a continuation of the Mizrach and HaPoel HaMizrachi parties. We are on our way to changing the face of religious-Zionist history.”
The new party’s candidates for Knesset, as well as its leader, are to be chosen by an independent 35-member Public Council, headed by Brig.-Gen. (res.) Yaakov Amidror. Amidror talked with Arutz-7’s Yigal Shok about the choosing process: "The current MKs know that not all of them will be chosen for realistic spots for the next Knesset… We must make sure that many groups, such as immigrants from the former Soviet Union, are represented in the list.”
'No Law-Breakers'
Regarding groups that are considered “extremist,” such as the left-wing Meimad and Baruch Marzel’s right-wing National Jewish Front, Amidror said, “We must take them all into account, but if it were up to me, I wouldn’t want law-breakers representing Judaism in the new party.”
Amidror later sharpened his position: “If the list is put together correctly, the extremes won’t be represented; our job is to represent the majority, and not to include the extremes.”
Remarks of that nature aroused the ire in some sectors. One objection raised was: "Why is the breaking of Jewish Law acceptable – as party leaders have expressed the desire to include not-religious candidates – while those who broke the law in defense of the Land of Israel during the Disengagement are not?"
The Divide
Such comments reflect the ongoing divide in the religious-Zionist camp between those who continue to feel loyalty to the State of Israel – mentioned in prayers as the Beginning of the Sprouting of our Redemption – and those who feel that its actions against its “most loyal sons” in Gush Katif, Amona, and elsewhere have disqualified it from receiving the religious camp’s undying loyalty.
The new party will thus face stiff competition at the ballot box from the Likud, Aryeh Eldad’s new secular-nationalist HaTikvah party, and possibly Marzel’s party, if he decides to run.
Stormy Meeting
Though the dissolution move was ultimately passed by a large majority at the NRP meeting, the session was stormy and many objections were raised. Orlev stood fast: “We must become the 3rd largest party in Israel; there is no other way. We are building a new political home, without breaking away from the old one, and are opening an extraordinary opportunity for additional tens of thousands of people to vote for us.”
“The NRP is returning to its original path via a new framework," Orlev exhorted. "The new agenda, topped by education and the Jewish character of the State of Israel will return the traditional religious-Zionist movement to its hour of glory.”
Gabbi Not Convinced
At least one incumbent Knesset Member is not convinced. Eli Gabbai did not even show up for the meeting, and will announce on Wednesday whether he plans to run for a place on the Likud list of Knesset candidates.
Meanwhile, In Meimad...
The left-wing religious Meimad party, which has run in the last few elections with Labor, is now considering running with the further-left Meretz party. The decision will be made on Thursday.