At least 20 political factions would present separate lists of candidates for the November elections to the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, Supreme Court Justice Y. Sussman, chairman of the Central Election Committee, predicted today. There are 14 parties in the present Knesset.
The election committee has already distributed applications requested by 40 parties, and at least half of these are expected to produce the required 750 signatures before the deadline for filing lists in two weeks.
Some friction has arisen among the factions of the National Religious front, which combines the Mizrachi and the Hapoel Hamizrachi parties. The latter faction has demanded that its candidate be placed in the top position on the list, otherwise the party threatens to enter a separate list.
It was learned today that the Semitic Action group, known as the “Canaanites,” decided not to present its own list. The group had previously said it would name as head of its list David Ben Haroush, the self-proclaimed leader of the North African immigrants. Haroush is now facing trial in Haifa for inciting the recent Wadi Salib riots. The “Canaanites” seemed to think that Haroush’s candidacy would bring about his release from jail.
Rabbi Mordechai Nurock, well-known former leader of Latvian Jewry and now a member of the Knesset, announced today that he would present his own list of candidates for the general elections. He expressed dissatisfaction with the place given his Knesset candidacy by the National Religious Party, of which he is a member. He called it an “unsafe” place. He has issued an appeal to all Latvian Jews in Israel to support his ticket.
Meanwhile, the National Religious Party has set up an Arabic section to develop its relationships with the minorities in connection with the forthcoming general elections. The first rally of Arabs held by the Jewish religious group was attended by 200, both Moslems and Christians. Among them were sheiks, imams, tribal leaders and elders.
National Religious Party members of the last Knesset addressed the meeting and told the guests that their interests would be served best by supporting the party which adhered to the Mosaic Code and traditional Jewish ethics. Some of the guests at the meeting stressed the identity of views and interests shared by the devout of all faiths.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
