The National Union’s two-party coalition announced Tuesday its seven members will run on two separate tickets in the next election. Avigdor Lieberman heads the Yisrael Beiteinu faction, and Tekumah and Moledet will choose a leader and run together on a separate ticket.
Moledet leader Benny Elon said the two parties likely will work together after elections, which officially are almost a year away. Israel’s political parties already are preparing for the Sharon coalition to fall, either because of the disengagement bill or the proposed budget.
The amicable division follows National Union polls that reveal the parties can significantly strengthen representation in the Knesset by running separately. Lieberman said he foresees 11 MKs for his party and seven for Tekumah-Moledet.
His party will aim to attract non-religious right-wing voters, especially new immigrants from the former Soviet Union. Tekumah-Moledet will try to attract more religious voters, including supporters of the National Religious Party. The NRP is in a crisis following its Knesset members' disagreement on whether to remain in the Sharon government.
MK Shaul Yahalom of the NRP said he was "not concerned" over the possible defection of his party’s voters. "Their original coalition failed, and that's why they're splitting up, not because of supposedly sophisticated political tricks," he said. Elon said he would welcome both Levy and Effie Eitam, who headed the NRP in the last elections.
Recent polls have revealed that if elections were held today, Likud, Labor, Shinui and the NRP would lose strength, while National Union and Shas would win more seats in the Knesset.
Lieberman charged that “we already would be in an election campaign” if the NRP had quit the government after the Sharon government submitted its bill to destroy 25 Jewish communities in northern Samaria and Gush Katif.
Moledet leader Benny Elon said the two parties likely will work together after elections, which officially are almost a year away. Israel’s political parties already are preparing for the Sharon coalition to fall, either because of the disengagement bill or the proposed budget.
The amicable division follows National Union polls that reveal the parties can significantly strengthen representation in the Knesset by running separately. Lieberman said he foresees 11 MKs for his party and seven for Tekumah-Moledet.
His party will aim to attract non-religious right-wing voters, especially new immigrants from the former Soviet Union. Tekumah-Moledet will try to attract more religious voters, including supporters of the National Religious Party. The NRP is in a crisis following its Knesset members' disagreement on whether to remain in the Sharon government.
MK Shaul Yahalom of the NRP said he was "not concerned" over the possible defection of his party’s voters. "Their original coalition failed, and that's why they're splitting up, not because of supposedly sophisticated political tricks," he said. Elon said he would welcome both Levy and Effie Eitam, who headed the NRP in the last elections.
Recent polls have revealed that if elections were held today, Likud, Labor, Shinui and the NRP would lose strength, while National Union and Shas would win more seats in the Knesset.
Lieberman charged that “we already would be in an election campaign” if the NRP had quit the government after the Sharon government submitted its bill to destroy 25 Jewish communities in northern Samaria and Gush Katif.