Boasting a voter turnout of 92% of its 1,030 Central Committee members, the National Religious Party selected its list of candidates for the 16th Knesset yesterday. Following Infrastructures Minister Effie Eitam, for whom was guaranteed the top spot by virtue of his position as party leader, the next slots were filled in as follows: MK Zevulun Orlev, MK Sha'ul Yahalom, and Tourism Minister and ex-party leader Rabbi Yitzchak Levy. Rounding out the top five was Tel Aviv principal Gila Finkelstein, who won the reserved woman's seat.
Next on the list are former MKs Nissan Slomiansky and Eli Gabbai, followed by MK Yigal Bibi, whose endorsement by former Chief Rabbi and NRP spiritual leader Mordechai Eliyahu proved to be somewhat controversial. Some elements within the party, championed by Yahalom, feel that the NRP should consult with its rabbis on general policy, but not on specific issues such as who should be chosen as a Knesset Member. Number nine is ex-MK Shmaryahu Ben-Tzur, followed by the NRP's Young Generation head Chaim Falk.
Polls indicate that the NRP, the only religious-Zionist party running in the upcoming elections, will win only 4-5 Knesset seats. It is perceived as not being sufficiently hawkish by National Union supporters, too hawkish by Meimad voters, insufficiently religious by United Torah Judaism and Shas-niks, and unconcerned about social issues by others. Columnist Shalom Tzuriel addressed this last point in today's HaTzofeh:
"A sum-up report of Knesset activity shows that it is none other than the NRP that leads in social-oriented legislation and concern for the lower classes... The NRP politicians are not sufficiently aware of the importance of publicizing their accomplishments... Shas excelled in talking about the situation of the lower classes, but did little more than talk... The Likud, too, cannot be proud of the number of social laws it passed in this Knesset, despite the fact that many of its voters are among the lower classes... The NRP has no reason to hide its successes. In the merit of its political path and accomplishments in the past and present, it can definitely march forward with head held high."
Next on the list are former MKs Nissan Slomiansky and Eli Gabbai, followed by MK Yigal Bibi, whose endorsement by former Chief Rabbi and NRP spiritual leader Mordechai Eliyahu proved to be somewhat controversial. Some elements within the party, championed by Yahalom, feel that the NRP should consult with its rabbis on general policy, but not on specific issues such as who should be chosen as a Knesset Member. Number nine is ex-MK Shmaryahu Ben-Tzur, followed by the NRP's Young Generation head Chaim Falk.
Polls indicate that the NRP, the only religious-Zionist party running in the upcoming elections, will win only 4-5 Knesset seats. It is perceived as not being sufficiently hawkish by National Union supporters, too hawkish by Meimad voters, insufficiently religious by United Torah Judaism and Shas-niks, and unconcerned about social issues by others. Columnist Shalom Tzuriel addressed this last point in today's HaTzofeh:
"A sum-up report of Knesset activity shows that it is none other than the NRP that leads in social-oriented legislation and concern for the lower classes... The NRP politicians are not sufficiently aware of the importance of publicizing their accomplishments... Shas excelled in talking about the situation of the lower classes, but did little more than talk... The Likud, too, cannot be proud of the number of social laws it passed in this Knesset, despite the fact that many of its voters are among the lower classes... The NRP has no reason to hide its successes. In the merit of its political path and accomplishments in the past and present, it can definitely march forward with head held high."