Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., November 20, 2008 Cheshvan 22, 5769 | | Israel Time: 03:10 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File

NRP votes self out of existence, approves merger with right By Nadav Shragai The National Religious Party voted itself out of existence yesterday, when an overwhelming majority of delegates to its convention approved a merger with two other parties to form a new religious Zionist party. The other two parties, Moledet and Tekuma, had approved the merger earlier. Advertisement Prior to the vote, NRP chairman MK Zevulun Orlev urged the several hundred delegates to approve the move. "It would be very easy to remain in our small, comfortable house and perhaps win three to five seats," he said. "But that's a risk I'm not willing to take. Numbers like that no longer count in Israeli politics. We must become the State of Israel's third largest party." Orlev compared yesterday's decision to the historic merger 52 years ago that formed the NRP out of two other parties, Hamizrahi and Hapoel Hamizrahi. He also stressed that the new, merged party would focus on education and the state's Jewish character. "The fact that religious Zionism has been pushed into a political corner has eroded the State of Israel's Jewish character, the status of the family and the status of the settlement movement," he said. "More than religious Zionism needs the state, the State of Israel very much needs religious Zionism, which will give it content, a soul and values." He also urged the party to expand its reach: Shas, he noted, attracts many voters who are traditional but not fully observant; why should a religious Zionist party not be able to do the same? Former minister Yigal Bibi, who opposed the merger, suggested postponing a decision on disbanding the NRP until after the February 10 Knesset elections. Running with the other two parties on a joint list is fine, he said, but "the NRP is still a brand name," and there is no reason to abandon it. However, most of the delegates agreed with Orlev that the need for change "outweighs nostalgia," as Liora Minka, who heads the Israeli chapter of the religious Zionist women's movement, Emunah, put it. A few delegates demanded a secret ballot and raised other procedural objections, but these were quickly overruled, and in the end, the vote was open. Bookmark to del.icio.us   The King is dead Archeologists find new evidence for King Herod's tomb site. Al-Hasbara Israel launches Arabic YouTube channel to bypass Arab media.

Read & React Bradley Burston: Dividing Jerusalem, one wall at a time Responses: 42 Peres: Obama told me he was 'very impressed' with Arab peace plan Responses: 75 VIDEO / Peres speech at Oxford University disrupted by anti-Israel protesters Responses: 104 Settler rabbi: The State of Israel is an enemy of the people Responses: 69 Hamas: We're prepared to end cease-fire and confront Israel Responses: 49 More Headlines 22:25 IAEA: Syria site bombed by Israel bore features of nuclear reactor 22:05 Israel to boycott 'Durban II' anti-racism conference 21:40 Assad: Israel never asked Syria to cut ties with Hezbollah, Iran 21:42 PA negotiator: Obama told Abbas he'd spare no effort to see Mideast peace 19:26 Israel launches Arabic YouTube channel to bypass Arab media 22:02 Jewish Republican representative elected to top deputy spot in Congress 01:36 Archaeologists find new evidence for King Herod's tomb site 23:06 GA special report / Satisfied participants bid farewell to Jerusalem 00:44 U.S. FAA downgrades Israel's aviation safety ranking 19:04 Dividing Jerusalem, one wall at a time 02:09 Al-Qaida No. 2: Obama guilty of betraying Muslim roots in backing Israel 00:42 Peres speech at Oxford University disrupted by anti-Israel protesters 02:07 Warsaw completes restoration project marking Jewish Ghetto boundaries 01:50 Court sentences Boaz Yona to 7 years, doubles damages he must pay 02:40 Report: 90% of schools offer auxiliary programs not monitored by Education Min. Previous Editions Select Day 19 nov 18 nov 17 nov 16 nov 14 nov 13 nov 12 nov 11 nov 10 nov 09 nov 07 nov 06 nov

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