Israeli Party Elects Hawk As Its New Leader

In a move that could further complicate Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, a key party in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition elected an avowed hawk as its leader Sunday.

Transportation Minister Yitzhak Levy won the most votes in the National Religious Party’s central committee, Israeli media reports said. He will become education minister in place of the late party leader Zevulun Hammer, who died of cancer in January.

Another hawk - runner-up Shaul Yahalom - will become transportation minister in place of Levy, the reports said.

The NRP has 10 seats in the 120-member Knesset - easily enough to bring down Netanyahu’s narrow coalition of 61. It has threatened to do so if Netanyahu cedes more land to the Palestinians.