Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., December 05, 2008 Kislev 8, 5769 | | Israel Time: 02:18 (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

Hardline rightist MK, Yitzhak Levy, quitting politics By Nadav Shragai MK Rabbi Yitzhak Levy (National Union-National Religious Party) yesterday announced his intention to leave politics, declaring he would not run for a place on the right-wing Habayit Hayehudi party list. "I'm not 'slamming the door' as I leave, but rather hope and pray for [the party's] success," said Levi, a former education minister and National Religious Party chairman. He said he would return to the field of education, in which he worked before entering politics. Advertisement The hardline politician made the announcement following the new party's recent decision not to hold primary elections for its Knesset list and leadership, but instead to have public council choose the head of the party's Knesset list. Levy said that "holding primary elections would promote the party. I thought the public should be involved. We eventually settled on holding primary elections only for the head of the party, but the council rejected this decision as well." The party council's decision not to hold primary elections was almost unanimous, but nevertheless caused a split within the party that was established only several weeks ago. The council is headed by retired Maj. Gen. Yaakov Amidror. MKs Uri Ariel and Tzvi Hendel had also threatened to quit, but have now decided to remain. Despite the crisis in the newly-formed national-religious party, the council has stayed firm in its decision to choose its chairman and MKs without a primary. It has promised to consider the wishes of the public, which has been invited to express its opinion on the party's Web site. Today the council will choose the party's chairman for the upcoming elections. Earlier this week it selected seven candidates: MKs Zevulun Orlev, Uri Ariel and Benyamin Elon, the entire National Union-National Religious Party; Rabbi and Professor Daniel Hershkovitz of the Technion in Haifa; David Beeri, the head of the Elad association behind the City of David; former Bnei Akiva secretary general Avraham Lifshitz and educator Avi Wurtzman. Levy has served as education minister and as head of the National Religious Party in the past. He left the NRP in 1983 but returned three years later. In 1988, he was elected to the Knesset for the first time and in 1996 was appointed transportation and energy minister in Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet. In 1998, after Zevulun Hammer passed away, Levy replaced him in the Education Ministry. A year later, he became housing minister in Ehud Barak's cabinet, and in 2000 resigned from the government in response to the Camp David Summit. He served Ariel Sharon first as tourism minister and then as the deputy minister of religious affairs. In 2004, both Levy and MK Effie Eitam (National Union-National Religious Party) left the cabinet to protest the Gaza disengagement. The two established a new Knesset faction, which later became part of the National Union-National Religious Party. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Settler rampage Video shows settler shooting Palestinian in the stomach from point-blank range. Living side by side An historic Chicago synagogue neighbors Barack Obama's house.

Read & React Israeli Arab leaders vow to sail to Gaza to break blockade Responses: 130 Settlers rampage in Palestinian areas after Hebron eviction Responses: 160 Editorial: Jewish terrorists are holding hostage Israel's future Responses: 50 Ari Shavit: Pakistan is as dangerous as Iran Responses: 28 Shlomo Avineri: The State of Israel as the kingdom of evil Responses: 16 More Headlines 02:03 Israel braces for settler violence following Hebron evacuation 01:59 ANALYSIS / No other word than 'pogrom' for settler acts in Hebron 23:27 Abbas aide: Settler attacks could scupper peace process 02:05 Obama's Palestinian friend 17:39 State Prosecutor closes Bank Leumi probe against Olmert 16:05 Report: Syria won't renew peace talks until Israel clarifies Golan plans 07:50 At synagogue overlooking Obama's house, blacks and Jews live side by side 22:55 High voter turnout for Labor's second primary this week 22:11 Top rightist MKs won`t head new national-religious party Habayit Hayehudi 20:36 Mumbai Jewish community on edge after attacks in India 17:28 WATCH: Will Bar Refaeli be the next James Bond girl? 19:39 Ex-N.Y. Governor Eliot Spitzer debuts as columnist for online magazine 'Slate' 21:32 UN forum: Israel systematically violating Palestinian human rights 21:23 IN PICTURES / The evacuation of 'House of Contention' in Hebron 00:22 Gilad Shalit's parents reportedly contact PIs to acquire information Previous Editions Select Day 04 dec 03 dec 02 dec 01 dec 30 nov 28 nov 27 nov 26 nov 25 nov 24 nov 23 nov 21 nov

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