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New national-religious grouping promises pluralism By Nadav Shragai Prof. Daniel Hershkowitz, the head of Habayit Hayehudi ("The Jewish Home"), vowed yesterday to uphold pluralistic political views within the newly-created national religious movement. "Habayit Hayehudi will not be a niche party," said Hershkowitz, a math lecturer at the Technion and a newcomer to the political scene. "While the six observant candidates voted into the Likud's Knesset list are politically homogenous, Habayit Hayehudi will accept differing opinions." Advertisement The party, which aims to represent a sector usually associated with the political right and Jewish settlers in the West Bank, was formed by former supporters of the defunct National Religious Party. It is supported by three MKs: Binyamin Elon, Zevulun Orlev and Uri Ariel. Hershkowitz said he opposed the 2005 Israeli pullout from the Gaza Strip on moral and state security grounds, yet added that he did not travel to that territory to protest against its evacuation. He also said he considers the State of Israel to encompass any place within the Land of Israel where Jews live, but stressed that he supported the rule of law on the issue of the house in Hebron where right-wing activist barricaded themselves in defiance of an eviction order. Hershkowitz, 53, lives in Haifa where he is the head rabbi of the Ahuza neighborhood. He is married and has five children and eight grandchildren. Although he is well-known in his hometown and among academic circles, the party will now have to run a campaign introducing the unknown politician to the public. Maj. Gen. (res.) Ya'akov Amidror, a senior official in the party, said Habayit Hayehudi's central committee will pick the best candidates for the remainder of its Knesset list. "Never before have a group of people chosen such a quality team to entrust with their fate and that of the state of Israel," Amidror declared. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Back in the Mideast Carter may meet with Hezbollah officials during his visit in Lebanon. Bush's final days Olmert has a thing or two to learn from Bush about an exit strategy.

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