The Knesset decided today that the national elections will be held on Jan. 28, 2003, the 25th of Shvat. (This will be almost two years to the day after the last election, in which Arik Sharon defeated Ehud Barak with 63% of the vote.) Other dates in this rushed election campaign: Likud primaries for party leader between Sharon, Netanyahu and Feiglin will be on November 28. The Likud's Knesset list will be chosen by the party's Central Committee's 2,800 members on Dec. 8. The Labor Party leader will be chosen on Nov. 19, and the decision as to how to choose the party's Knesset candidates will be made afterwards.
Knesset Member Rabbi Chaim Druckman (NRP) said today that he was retiring from politics. After participating in the 9th, 10th, and 11th Knessets between the years 1977 and 1988, Rabbi Druckman agreed to join the NRP list in 1999 - he was placed in the #2 slot - in order to bolster the party's "religious" flavor. Founder and head of the hesder yeshiva Ohr Etzion, and head of the national Yeshivot Bnei Akiva movement, Rabbi Druckman served chiefly on the Education and National Security committees in the Knesset.
Other election news: Former Shas Party leader and ex-Interior Minister Aryeh Deri announced this afternoon that he will not take part in the coming election, and asked that neither his picture nor his name be used on behalf of Shas in any way or form. Some leading Shas members emitted a sigh of relief upon learning that Deri would not attempt to sway voters *against* his former party... Labor MK Chaim Ramon, who is trailing in the race for his party leadership behind Mitzna and Ben-Eliezer, is expected to announce this evening that he is withdrawing from the race. He is likely to throw his support behind Mitzna.
Knesset Member Rabbi Chaim Druckman (NRP) said today that he was retiring from politics. After participating in the 9th, 10th, and 11th Knessets between the years 1977 and 1988, Rabbi Druckman agreed to join the NRP list in 1999 - he was placed in the #2 slot - in order to bolster the party's "religious" flavor. Founder and head of the hesder yeshiva Ohr Etzion, and head of the national Yeshivot Bnei Akiva movement, Rabbi Druckman served chiefly on the Education and National Security committees in the Knesset.
Other election news: Former Shas Party leader and ex-Interior Minister Aryeh Deri announced this afternoon that he will not take part in the coming election, and asked that neither his picture nor his name be used on behalf of Shas in any way or form. Some leading Shas members emitted a sigh of relief upon learning that Deri would not attempt to sway voters *against* his former party... Labor MK Chaim Ramon, who is trailing in the race for his party leadership behind Mitzna and Ben-Eliezer, is expected to announce this evening that he is withdrawing from the race. He is likely to throw his support behind Mitzna.