National Religious Party leader Minister Effie Eitam said today that his party will not remain in any government coalition that actively works to destroy the religious character of the state, explaining the values that have sustained the Jewish nation throughout the years are the values that remain at the head of the NRP agenda. He made the statement Friday morning in an interview with Israel Radio.

The statement was part of Minister Eitam’s explanation for the NRP’s objections to the proposed budget recently submitted, and then angrily withdrawn, by Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. According to the budget, there will be drastic cuts in funding to Torah institutions, in addition to the previously decided upon dismantling of the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Eitam clarified that he made his party’s position clear to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. The NRP leader explained that the strengthening of Jewish values and maintaining the Jewish character of the state is of the utmost importance and on this there cannot be any compromise – even at the expense of joining the benches of the opposition.