The decision by Supreme Court Justice Yaakov Tirkel, who heads the election committee, rejected a request by the attorney-general that Feiglin be prohibited from running. Attorney-General Meni Mazuz' reasoning was that Feiglin's conviction on sedition charges makes him likely to encourage violence.
The ruling places Feiglin as a serious challenger to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's supporters. Feiglin's Jewish Leadership faction has brought into the Likud party thousands of supporters, many of whom in the past have voted for the National Religious or the National Union parties. A recent Likud central committee decision ruled that new members may not join the party within 16 months of the scheduled elections in November, 2006. Sharon aides said they thought the decision would keep Feiglin from being able to enroll more supporters if there are early elections.
In 1997, Feiglin was the first person in Israel's modern history to be convicted for sedition. He was charged for organizing thousands of demonstrators in 1995 who blocked main intersections to protest against the agreements between the Rabin-Peres government and Yasser Arafat.
Sunday's decision came just hours before National Religious Party (NRP) leader Effie Eitam signed an agreement to join the National Union party in the next elections. NRP MK Zevulun Orlev declared the agreement "is not worth the paper it is written on." He said Eitam and co-supporter Yitzchak Levy "have no permission and certainly are not able to pull us after them." The NRP is to discuss the agreement Monday.
The NRP has six members in the current Knesset, and the National Union party has seven MKs. Recent surveys have showed that if elections were to be held today, the Nation Union Party would increase its strength.
The ruling places Feiglin as a serious challenger to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's supporters. Feiglin's Jewish Leadership faction has brought into the Likud party thousands of supporters, many of whom in the past have voted for the National Religious or the National Union parties. A recent Likud central committee decision ruled that new members may not join the party within 16 months of the scheduled elections in November, 2006. Sharon aides said they thought the decision would keep Feiglin from being able to enroll more supporters if there are early elections.
In 1997, Feiglin was the first person in Israel's modern history to be convicted for sedition. He was charged for organizing thousands of demonstrators in 1995 who blocked main intersections to protest against the agreements between the Rabin-Peres government and Yasser Arafat.
Sunday's decision came just hours before National Religious Party (NRP) leader Effie Eitam signed an agreement to join the National Union party in the next elections. NRP MK Zevulun Orlev declared the agreement "is not worth the paper it is written on." He said Eitam and co-supporter Yitzchak Levy "have no permission and certainly are not able to pull us after them." The NRP is to discuss the agreement Monday.
The NRP has six members in the current Knesset, and the National Union party has seven MKs. Recent surveys have showed that if elections were to be held today, the Nation Union Party would increase its strength.