Netanyahu deal aimed at national-religious camp

Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu signed a deal with Effi Eitam's Ahi faction yesterday to try to increase support of voters from the national-religious camp. But two national religious parties - Habayit Hayehudi and National Union - responded angrily to the declaration.

In the deal, the two sides embrace the national-religious educational system and hope this will be reflected in the state budget.

The agreement calls for a strengthening of the state's Jewish identity and commits Likud to oppose another withdrawal like the Gaza disengagement of 2005.

It also calls for quickly addressing the needs of the former residents of Gush Katif and protecting the unity of Jerusalem. Netanyahu called Likud religious Zionism's "natural home".

Habayit Hayehudi's public relations head Uri Orbach said Likud wants the support of the religious camp now, only to ignore and hurt them after next month's election.

Only a strong Habayit Hayehudi can keep an eye on Netanyahu, he said.

The agreement was signed in the presence of six religious Likud Knesset candidates thought to have a good chance of making it into the Knesset.

National Union MK Uri Ariel said of the Likud-Ahi agreement: "The religious public is not so foolish that they would vote for the Likud chairman.

Likud, which supported the disengagement and now refuses to publicly declare that it opposes a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria, cannot earn the trust of those who are loyal to the Land of Israel."

According to public opinion polls, most national-religious people want their representatives to have influence within the government; this is reflected in the campaigns of Habayit Hayehudi and National Union.

Earlier this week, National Union announced that it will join any "national government" that Netanyahu forms. Habayit Hayehudi has reacted skeptically, however, saying National Union's escape clause can be found in the term "national government", which is open to interpretation.

A Maagar Mohot poll of the national-religious public conducted last week shows National Union and Habayit Hayehudi hovering near the minimum number of votes for making it into the Knesset, at two seats each.

A poll published in the right-wing Makor Rishon newspaper showed that among those with an opinion, 37 percent supported National Union, 29 percent supported Habayit Hayehudi and 21 percent Likud.