National Religious Party (NRP) Chairman MK Effie Eitam no longer holds that position. The party's law committee tribunal decided this morning to suspend Eitam, in a decision that is valid until the NRP's Central Committee next convenes and makes a final decision on the matter.
The legal committee voted to suspend Eitam because of his unilateral actions of eight months ago when he and MK Yitzchak Levy quit the government and voted against it – while the NRP as a whole had made no such decision. The party's remaining four MKs quit the government five months later. The entire party strongly opposes the disengagement, but the MKs disputed the question of the timing.
The legal committee's lone dissenting voter said he planned to quit the committee.
Eitam is in the midst of trying to form a united religious-Zionist party bloc in time for the next national elections. To this end, he signed an agreement with the National Union – but the NRP's official organs have not yet approved it. Eitam's political nemesis, MK Zevulun Orlev, is opposed to the idea.
Eitam said today that he and MK Levy are proud to have initiated the process of the NRP's resignation from the government, and called today's decision "small-minded politicking that will greatly harm the NRP on Election Day."
Eitam had a difficult day today in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee as well, when Committee Chairman Yuval Shteinitz ordered him removed. The incident began when Prime Minister Sharon hinted that political figures are behind the incitement and threats against government ministers and pro-disengagement MKs. "There are people who write [threatening] letters, but those who stand behind them are not shocked," Sharon said.
Eitam demanded to know, "Who are they?"
"Those who are jumping here," clearly alluding to Eitam and MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union). "They're not sensitive enough. They don't care enough about the incitement."
Eitam began yelling: "What you are saying is incitement. What, are you responsible for the extent of my shock? I condemn refusal and violence at every opportunity. Incitement emanates from your office! You are purposely sluggish in dealing with those who are really dangerous, and what you are doing here is incitement."
Chairman Shteinitz, a Likud supporter of the disengagement – though he doesn't like its unilateral nature – had Eitam removed from the session. Enraged by Sharon's remarks and by his expulsion from the session, Eitam told reporters, "We're seeing a process of shrinking the democracy because of the brutal and trampling pressure of the Prime Minister."
Later, Eitam said, "Sharon is doing something very grave. As chief executive responsible for the General Security Service, he is responsible for internal security – but instead of taking care of the few inciters, he doesn't do the job and instead blames it all on an entire public... Sharon is creating a spin on the events, de-legitimizing an entire public with his hints that they are all behind these violent acts... I met three months ago with the GSS head and told him that I would back him fully if evidence was produced against specific people – but meanwhile nothing has been found, and no one has been arrested or detained. This is all just a way of maligning an entire population sector."
MK Eldad, another member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, said after today's session, "The Prime Minister used the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee as a stage on which to incite wildly against the nationalist camp that objects to his plan, by saying that they support the threatening letters to the ministers... Sharon could stop the letter-writers, but he chooses instead to use these silly letters to incite against all those who oppose him."
The legal committee voted to suspend Eitam because of his unilateral actions of eight months ago when he and MK Yitzchak Levy quit the government and voted against it – while the NRP as a whole had made no such decision. The party's remaining four MKs quit the government five months later. The entire party strongly opposes the disengagement, but the MKs disputed the question of the timing.
The legal committee's lone dissenting voter said he planned to quit the committee.
Eitam is in the midst of trying to form a united religious-Zionist party bloc in time for the next national elections. To this end, he signed an agreement with the National Union – but the NRP's official organs have not yet approved it. Eitam's political nemesis, MK Zevulun Orlev, is opposed to the idea.
Eitam said today that he and MK Levy are proud to have initiated the process of the NRP's resignation from the government, and called today's decision "small-minded politicking that will greatly harm the NRP on Election Day."
Eitam had a difficult day today in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee as well, when Committee Chairman Yuval Shteinitz ordered him removed. The incident began when Prime Minister Sharon hinted that political figures are behind the incitement and threats against government ministers and pro-disengagement MKs. "There are people who write [threatening] letters, but those who stand behind them are not shocked," Sharon said.
Eitam demanded to know, "Who are they?"
"Those who are jumping here," clearly alluding to Eitam and MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union). "They're not sensitive enough. They don't care enough about the incitement."
Eitam began yelling: "What you are saying is incitement. What, are you responsible for the extent of my shock? I condemn refusal and violence at every opportunity. Incitement emanates from your office! You are purposely sluggish in dealing with those who are really dangerous, and what you are doing here is incitement."
Chairman Shteinitz, a Likud supporter of the disengagement – though he doesn't like its unilateral nature – had Eitam removed from the session. Enraged by Sharon's remarks and by his expulsion from the session, Eitam told reporters, "We're seeing a process of shrinking the democracy because of the brutal and trampling pressure of the Prime Minister."
Later, Eitam said, "Sharon is doing something very grave. As chief executive responsible for the General Security Service, he is responsible for internal security – but instead of taking care of the few inciters, he doesn't do the job and instead blames it all on an entire public... Sharon is creating a spin on the events, de-legitimizing an entire public with his hints that they are all behind these violent acts... I met three months ago with the GSS head and told him that I would back him fully if evidence was produced against specific people – but meanwhile nothing has been found, and no one has been arrested or detained. This is all just a way of maligning an entire population sector."
MK Eldad, another member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, said after today's session, "The Prime Minister used the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee as a stage on which to incite wildly against the nationalist camp that objects to his plan, by saying that they support the threatening letters to the ministers... Sharon could stop the letter-writers, but he chooses instead to use these silly letters to incite against all those who oppose him."