Israel’s Kadima Says It May Leave Coalition Over Draft Issue

[Purveyor]

The head of Israel’s Kadima party is threatening to leave the unity government unless Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu curtails draft exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men.

Kadima, which holds the largest number of seats in Israel’s parliament, joined Netanyahu’s Likud-led coalition in May after he promised to change government policy that allows ultra- Orthodox men to defer mandatory military service as long as they are engaged in full-time religious studies. Netanyahu yesterday dissolved a committee set up to craft a proposal that would require them to do some form of public service after several legislators resigned from the panel.

“The committee was formed by Kadima and Likud together, and its unilateral dissolution by the prime minister doesn’t obligate Kadima,” Vice Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz, who heads Kadima, said late yesterday on Army Radio. “If the prime minister doesn’t go in the right direction, the national unity government will end.”

If Kadima leaves the coalition, Netanyahu’s government would still hold enough seats in the Knesset, or parliament, to remain in power. Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman told Army Radio today that his Yisrael Beitenu party, the third largest faction in the coalition, plans to stay in the government and work toward an alternative proposal for ultra-Orthodox enlistment that would also include Israeli Arabs.

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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-03/israel-s-kadima-says-it-may-leave-coalition-over-draft-issue-1-.html

[Scurrilous]

1. Kadima: Accept our proposals on ultra-Orthodox service in the IDF or we’ll quit the coalition

Recommendations, to be presented Wednesday, include fines for Haredi draft-dodgers and a limit of 1,500 annual exemptions for the best scholars

<snip>

"Kadima is raising the ante in its battle with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the issue of universal enlistment in the IDF, demanding that new legislation on the issue limit Haredi exemptions and impose fines on those who refuse to serve. If these conditions are not met, Kadima representatives said late Tuesday night, the party will leave the national unity government.

Netanyahu was scrambling to prevent Wednesday’s publication of the Plesner committee’s findings on universal enlistment and keep his tenuous coalition together.

Netanyahu enlisted the assistance of his ousted former bureau chief Natan Eshel to convince MK Yohanan Plesner (Kadima) not to publish the committee’s report on drafting a universal conscription bill, Ynet reported. But Plesner was quoted on Tuesday night as saying that he would present the committee’s findings as planned on Wednesday morning, and that “the ball will then be in the court of the politicians.”

Ynet reported that the committee’s recommendations — which would be part of Kadima’s demands for new legislation — include allowing Haredim to delay enlistment until the age of 22, instead of 28 as stipulated by the Tal Law, as well as a limit of 1,500 annual deferments for the most promising yeshiva students and personal fines or sanctions against those who refuse to serve.

Kadima head Shaul Mofaz said on Monday he would not meet with Netanyahu until after the findings were published, and hinted he would reconsider the party’s future in the coalition."

http://www.timesofisrael.com/kadima-accept-our-proposals-on-ultra-orthodox-service-in-the-idf-or-well-quit-the-coalition/

[Scurrilous]

2. Protesters call for equal burden

Some 1,500 IDF reservists, disabled veterans, social activists and politicians hold mass procession in Tel Aviv urging government to enact universal draft legislation. 'We're tired of being suckers,' say activists

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4252361,00.html

<snip>

"Some 1,500 people including IDF reservists, disabled veterans, social activists and politicians gathered Saturday night in Tel Aviv Museum Plaza in order to call for universal draft and an equal distribution of the burden.

The protesters are calling: "One people, one draft" and "Barak, you promised – now live up to it."

The protesters gathered at 8pm near the "sucker's tent" in Tel Aviv's Arlozorov train station and began marching toward Tel Aviv Museum, where they will hold a rally."

<snip>

"Meanwhile, the police reported that some 400 social justice activists blocked Tel Aviv's Kaplan road and staged an unauthorized protest.

Former Kadima chairwoman Tzipi Livni joined the protesters, saying that "this is a battle over principles and values. If Israel wants to remain democratic, it must make a decision. As a citizen of the state and a mother of a soldier, I am here with you tonight."

[azurnoir]

3. so I'd guess the 'honeymoon' is over?

that lasted about as long as Kim Kardashian's marriage, but I wonder if they made as much money off of it?