My friend Jacob Richman wrote a page on his web site explaining why he will vote Ichud Leumi (NUP). As a person who has traditionally voted for religious/Zionist parties – I feel compelled to answer Jacob in public.
There are a number of flaws in his argumentations regarding the National Union Party (NUP)
1. The NUP doesn’t have a national agenda – i.e. they don’t have positions on economics, industry, trade, energy, environment, transportation and healthcare in their platform.  They are a “one trick pony”
The country runs on taxes  – without a strong economy the entire question is moot.   I believe that our future is at stake on the economic issues and since the NUP doesn’t even have an economic platform – they are non-starters in my book.
2. The NUP has neither  electoral power nor post-elections political power – which brings me to my third point
3. They are politically weak (and whatever political clout they have is generally wasted on the usual internecine politics endemic to the right and religious parties).  As a result – they will never be able to keep their promise of preserving Erez Israel to their voters.  It’s like me promising you that I’ll go to the supermarket and shop for you without having enough money to  pay for the groceries at the checkout counter.
4. The country is better served with 2 large parties with clear national agendas that represent large portions of the electorate. By supporting the continued existence of small parties like the NUP we weaken the democratic process not strenghten it. Crucial national  decisions must be decided on the basis of a majority vote not on the basis of coalition in-fighting and log-rolling.