Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., November 04, 2008 Cheshvan 6, 5769 | | Israel Time: 02:53 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate U.S. election Travel Week's End Anglo File

Right unites, but touted head Eitam quits NRP for Likud By Nadav Shragai MK Effi Eitam is ditching the National Union-National Religious Party for Likud, he announced yesterday. Eitam had spent the last two weeks meeting with members of his party to discuss a full merger of the right-wing factions that make up National Union-NRP, and he appeared to be planning to run for leadership of the merged party. Advertisement "The new party that will be established will be a sectarian party - religious Zionist-traditional, which does not open its doors sufficiently to the nationalist secular public," Eitam said yesterday. Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu refused to reserve a spot for Eitam on the party's Knesset list, so Eitam will run in the primary. He hopes to win votes from supporters of Likud's right-wing Jewish Leadership faction, headed by Moshe Feiglin. Meanwhile, MK Aryeh Eldad, a member of the new Hatikvah party, which aims to win the votes of the secular right wing, has announced he will not join the merged National Union-NRP party. Hatikvah has said it will run for the Knesset, but sources on the right said the decision is not final. Baruch Marzel's far-right National Jewish Front party is also hoping to get into the Knesset in the next election. National Union-NRP, for its part, is expected to announce today or tomorrow the full merger of three of the four factions that comprise it - NRP, Tekuma and Moledet. MK Yitzhak Levy, a member of the Ahi faction - along with Eitam, until now - said he is leaning toward remaining in the merged party. The party's new chairman will be elected in an open primary. Candidates for the post include Zevulun Orlev and Uri Ariel, and possibly Benny Elon. A 30-member public committee including public figures, academics and rabbis will be responsible for compiling the Knesset list. The committee plans to include four new faces in the top 10 slots, including two secular candidates and a woman. The party aims to focus on Jewish identity issues, education and society, with issues concerning the Land of Israel to come lower down on the priority list. MK Eliyahu Gabbay (NRP), for one, objects to the deal. "The proper and democratic way of bringing about full unity out of mutual respect to the various factions in religious Zionism is via the establishment of a joint committee on a reasonable basis," he said. "Therefore, we should add new members to the NRP committee, based on a ratio of 1,000 members for every three Knesset members, and create one united framework that includes the representatives of all the parties that are members of the National Union." Gabbay said if the NRP committee does not vote on his proposal, he won't sign the agreement to abolish the NRP's elected institutions and establish a public committee. Bookmark to del.icio.us   4th quarter jitters Democrats have grown so used to losing, they feel any good news must have a catch. Designing an icon Ten years ago, two students asked Israeli Ruth Kedar to design their new company's logo.

Read & React Settlers preparing for war, says Shin Bet chief Responses: 247 Arab student chair apprehended for refusing to shake Peres' hand Responses: 183 Sarah Silverman was wrong: Older Jews more likely to vote Obama Responses: 53 Meir Porush: In 15 years, Israel won't have any secular mayors Responses: 45 Akiva Eldar: Evacuate Hebron settlement before it's too late Responses: 71 More Headlines 00:17 Obama eyes Republican states to lock up win 02:25 ANALYSIS / Is Obama a danger to Israel after all? 22:29 Despite boycott, EU legislators invite Hamas lawmakers to Brussels 00:36 Livni: Israeli voters will decide whether peace talks go on 02:26 Britain to EU: Clamp down on imports from settlements 23:42 Syria asks foreign staff of U.S. institutions to leave country 02:49 You betcha, Sarah Palin hits a nerve among Jewish women 15:38 No prayerbook on hand? Turn on your 'JewBerry' 00:58 Fourth quarter jitters reveal the pain and dejection of being a Democrat 23:44 On visit, ex-U.S. envoy Martin Indyk makes case for Obama to Israeli public 13:20 Report: Alleged Lebanon spy was tracking Hezbollah for Israel 00:21 Shooting motivated by jealousy leaves one person hurt in Haifa mall 20:50 Gaydamak fights for Israeli Arab East Jerusalem residents' rights 19:15 Egypt lawyer sues Lieberman for telling Mubarak to 'go to hell' 15:03 Israeli company creates drinking water out of thin air 20:04 U.S. Army soldier discharged over beating of Jewish trainee Previous Editions Select Day 03 nov 02 nov 31 oct 30 oct 29 oct 28 oct 27 oct 26 oct 24 oct 23 oct 22 oct 21 oct

Special Offers Advertisement Living in Israel Studying in English Click & Meet our students from all around the world Dan Boutique Jerusalem New Dan Hotel in Jerusalem Young, Fun & Distinctively Dan Book Now Online! Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Car rental in Israel Shlomo Sixt Receive $15.00 from our low rates. Dial 013 for your long-distance calls and get all your money back US CITIZENS Vote for real change. Request your ballot today! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved