Likud Chairman Binyamin [Bibi] Netanyahu signed a pact Monday with MK Effie Eitam, who heads the religious-Zionist Achi party, and with religious Likud members such as Ze'ev Elkin, Leah Nes, Benny Begin and Tzipi Hotobeli. In the pact Netanyahu stated that he sees Achi as a full political partner, and plans to uphold ideals that are important to the religious-Zionist public.
Netanyahu spoke at the signing ceremony, praising the religious-Zionist public as “no longer a limited sector, but one that is present in many avenues.” The religious-Zionist sector should be part of the ruling party, he said. He praised Likud's religious candidates as well, saying, “They used to say a member of Likud was someone who carried a kippa [yarmulke] in his pocket, but here we have member of Likud wearing it on their head. We should be proud of them.”
By signing the pact, Netanyahu promised to include funds for the religious-Zionist school system in the state budget, to keep Jerusalem united and under Israeli control, to assist Jewish families expelled from Gaza under the 2005 Disengagement plan, to prevent unilateral withdrawals, and to work to increase the Jewish majority in Jerusalem.
Eitam described the signing of the pact as “historic.” The agreement “is much more than a piece of paper—it's an ancient dream and signing it is an historic moment,” he said.
Likud member Moshe Feiglin, head of the Jewish Leadership faction, was not invited to the signing ceremony. Netanyahu explained his decision not to invite Feiglin by accusing the latter of encouraging dissension within the IDF. The values shared by religious Zionists and the Likud include IDF service, he said.
NU: We're Not Stupid
Members of the National Union expressed suspicion, pointing out that Netanyahu had supported the Disengagement from Gaza and had previously fought against granting Eitam and Feiglin realistic slots on the party list. “The religious public is not so stupid that it will vote for someone who threw Effie Eitam under the bus and now talks about cooperation,” said MK Uri Ariel.
"The Likud supported the Disengagement and even today refuses to declare its opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state that would turn Tel Aviv into Sderot,” Ariel continued. The party “is not a real option for voters loyal to the Land of Israel,” he concluded.