The National Religious Party's Central Committee voted overwhelmingly today to accede to its leader Effie Eitam's request to reserve the fifth slot on the party list for a woman. Eitam had threatened to resign if he did not receive support for this initiative, which would have been his third straight defeat in attempts to set party policy. Well-respected MK Zevulun Orlev, who opposed Eitam's earlier attempts to join with the National Union party and introduce other new faces to the party list, expressed satisfaction with his party's decision. He said that the importance that the NRP ascribes to women in public life is one of the distinctions between it and the other right-wing and religious parties.
The NRP is hoping to maintain its current strength of five Knesset seats. Vying for the woman's slot will be Yehudit Shilat of Maaleh Adumim, Gila Finkelstein, Yaffa Peretz, and Sima Tamir - whose American accent is unmistakable.
The NRP is hoping to maintain its current strength of five Knesset seats. Vying for the woman's slot will be Yehudit Shilat of Maaleh Adumim, Gila Finkelstein, Yaffa Peretz, and Sima Tamir - whose American accent is unmistakable.