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Rightist parties talk unification to prepare for early elections By Nadav Shragai Tags: Rightist parties, elections  The possibility that elections may be held earlier than scheduled has accelerated talk of unification among right-wing parties. Leaders of the four factions that form the National Union-National Religious Party list have been meeting for months to talk about the possibility of merging into one party. Currently, the National Religious Party (NRP), Moledet, Tekuma and Achi are all separate parties. Groups of 12th-graders from religious schools are exerting pressure for unification by threatening not to vote for National Union-NRP unless its factions unite into one party. Advertisement So far, the talks are being held only among NRP, Tekuma and Moledet. However, Moledet leader MK Arieh Eldad is talking to Achi leader MK Effie Eitam, as well as to Hatikva, a secular right-wing extra-parliamentary group. Achi, a new party formed by Eitam and former NRP leader Yitzhak Levy, has recently been joined by Nobel Prize laureate Professor Robert J. (Yisrael) Aumann of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Relations between Achi, the NRP and Tekuma are tense due to past conflicts, as well as due to a membership census that Achi insisted on conducting despite the other factions' objections. Only a few thousand people registered as Achi members in the census. In addition, Eitam is demanding that a united party hold primaries for both its leadership and its Knesset list, while the NRP and Tekuma strongly object, arguing that primaries lead to corruption. Tekuma, which is led by a group of rabbis, is the staunchest opponent of primaries. However, Moledet, NRP and Tekuma leaders have been examining a compromise proposal under which primaries would be held for the joint party's leadership, but a public council of university heads, rabbis and public figures would select its Knesset members. The parties' leaders believe that a united party would increase National Union-NRP's current nine Knesset seats to 15. However, they have not yet conducted any public opinion polls on the matter. The leaders are also discussing the need to add new people to the united party's Knesset list and to highlight the issues of education, social welfare, integrity and Jewish identity. Related articles: Yishai to Lieberman: If PM, Abbas discuss J`lem, Shas will quit gov`t Lieberman: Gov`t can't discuss outposts, ignore Negev building Bookmark to del.icio.us   Snoop Dogg in Israel American rapper Snoop Dogg slated to perform in Ramat Gan. Late date Scientists revive 2,000-year-old date seed found at Masada.   1.   Hatikva and Achi are the best options for a safer Israel 11:52  |  Dan 13/06/08   2.   The forces of evil unite 13:39  |  Sylvie 13/06/08   3.   Right wing bandits - UNITE!!! 13:50  |  Northern 13/06/08   4.   I will vote for them for the first time 14:34  |  Vitaly 13/06/08   5.   sylvie 15:21  |  israel winicki 13/06/08   6.   correction 15:24  |  israel winicki 13/06/08

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