MKs Eitam and Levy independently withdrew from the government coalition when the "disengagement plan" was first presented. The rest of the NRP remained part of the government for another five months. The entire party strongly opposes the withdrawal from Gaza and the northern Shomron, but the MKs disputed the timing of leaving the government.



As a result of the independent action, Eitam was recently suspended from his position as NRP chairman, pending a vote of the party's central committee members to make the suspension permanent. At the time, Eitam called the move "small-minded politicking that will greatly harm the NRP on Election Day."



Eitam and Levy signed an agreement over a week ago uniting the Land of Israel loyalist parties. According to a survey conducted for Israel's Voice of Israel, an overwhelming two-thirds of NRP voters favor a merger with the National Union party.



Eitam's political nemesis, MK Zevulun Orlev strongly opposed the idea, however, saying the agreement with National Union was invalid. In a faction meeting, Orlev said that most religious Zionists are "balanced and reasonable" and do not support the extremist "fringe" positions favored by the National Union.



The Religious Zionism Party is expected to join the National Union in the upcoming weeks.