Member of Knesset Uri Ariel informed Chairman David Tal of the Knesset's parliamentary committee Thursday night that he wants the committee to meet on Sunday to formally expedite his resignation from the Jewish Home party. In announcing his resignation, Ariel said that although he was placed in the third slot on the party's list of candidates for the February 10th Knesset election, he felt the list and the spirit emanating from the party was unacceptable to the public.
Ariel's assessment of the public's opinion of the Jewish Home appears to be accurate: While the National Union and National Religious Party currently have a total of nine Knesset seats, polls show the Jewish Home winning a maximum of six seats. Most surveys thus far have shown the party winning four or five seats.
The decision to withdraw from the Jewish Home was made with input from a group of rabbis headed by Rabbi Dov Lior, a leading figure in the religious-Zionist community, Ariel's assistant said. “Despite honest attempts at dialog made by a group of rabbis and community leaders over the past week, the Jewish Home did not agree to an understanding that would allow those faithful to the land of Israel to play a real role in the Jewish Home leadership,” he explained.
Land of Israel forces uniting?
Ariel intends to consolidate Land of Israel forces to renew the National Union, whose components merged with the National Religious Party to form the Jewish Home before disagreements over ideology and policy drove National Union members away. Ariel is considered the most popular figure in the national-religious camp.
On Friday, Ariel said that he does not intend to attack the Jewish Home, but rather, to create a united nationalist party that will work alongside the Jewish Home. He expressed hope that the two parties would join forces after the elections.
Other leading figures in the National Union who have left the Jewish Home include Rabbi Benny Elon, MK Aryeh Eldad and MK Effie Eitam. Rabbi Benny Elon removed his Moledet faction before announcing his retirement from politics. MK Aryeh Eldad formed the HaTikvah party to give Jewish nationalism a secular voice. MK Effie Eitam is in negotiations with the Likud party.
Eldad praises Ariel
Eldad praised Ariel on Friday for “sticking to his principles.” Eldad said he is also interested in recreating the National Union and the two may join forces. The latest Channel 2 poll showed Eldad's Hatikvah party gaining three Knesset seats.
The Jewish Home criticized Ariel's decision in a statement released Friday, saying, “The religious and traditional community will not forgive those who speak in favor of unity while carrying the sword of division.” Ariel “endangers the Jewish character of the state and of the land of Israel and acts against the agreements he signed,” and “will pay for it in the elections,” the statement warned.
Rabbi-Professor Daniel Hershkowitz, head of the Jewish Home, said the Jewish Home party list would not be rearranged following Ariel's departure. “It's like a castle of cards—the moment you reopen it, everything falls apart,” he said.
Sunday is the deadline for parties to submit their lists of candidates for the February 10th elections to the Knesset.