Rabbi Haim Druckman backed away yesterday from his threat to leave the National Religious Party and run for the Knesset in the June 30 elections on a separate rightwing religious list. He said he agreed to postpone his decision for two weeks in response to a last minute appeal from Interior Minister Yosef Burg, a leader of the NRP.
But informed sources said it was actually Education Minister Zevulun Hammer, leader of the NRP’s “young guard”, who persuaded Druckman to cancel the formal announcement of his break-away he was expected to make yesterday. The sources said Hammer promised that Druckman’s hawkish faction would have at least two safe seats on the NRP’s election list. Druckman reportedly had demanded three seats and a Cabinet portfolio for himself if the NRP participates in a future coalition government.
Political observers said Hammer’s deal with Druckman would heighten tension within the NRP between the “young guard” and the Lamifne faction headed by Burg.
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