DRUCKMAN, HAIM

(1933- )

Born in Poland, he immigrated (see Aliya) toPalestinein 1944. He was one of the founders of theBnei Akivayouth movement. He split from theNational Religious Party(NRP) and helped to establish theMorasha(Heritage) Party. He was elected to the 11thKnesseton the Morasha list.Druckman was inserted into the number 2 slot on the NRP's list of candidates for the 17 May 1999 election (see KNESSET ELECTIONS) to the 15th Knesset. He subsequently resigned from the NRP and withdrew from party politics. A founder of the militantGush Emunim, he is a forceful opponent of territorial compromise in theOccupied Territories, suggesting that it is consistent withHalacha(Jewish law) for soldiers to disobey orders to evacuate Jewishsettlements. Druckman was especially prominent in his opposition to Prime MinisterArielSharon's plan to disengage from theGaza Stripand parts of the northernWest Bank. In 1997 and 1998, Rabbi Druckman headed a committee of representatives of various streams of Judaism mandated to achieve compromise on the status of adopted children converted to Judaism outside of Israel. He was appointed to head the committee of rabbis from various streams of Judaism to prepare those wishing to convert to Judaism in Israel, as recommended by a government committee headed byYaakov Ne'eman.

See alsoReligion.