Kadima leader Shaul Mofaz said that he was willing to compromise in negotiations over universal service but there were red lines he was unwilling to cross, speaking to reporters minutes after Kadima voted to leave the coalition over the issue at a faction meeting in Petah Tikva Tuesday evening.
Saying that Kadima would not allow a "Tal Law 2," Mofaz rejected the idea of delaying military or national service to age 26, as opposed to Kadima's proposal that limited deferrals to 22. "There won't be a law that allows deferrals to age 26," Mofaz asserted.
Related:
"He who says 26, doesn't want true equality," said Mofaz, accusing the Likud of trying to sell a "make believe" equality. "I will continue to fight,'" he stated. "This '26 bill' doesn't stand any type of test."
"Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu chose to give up on our children," said Mofaz. "I will not... I stand by my words and wish us all luck in our shared goal of equalizing the burden. "
All but three Kadima MKs voted to leave the government at a faction meeting held in Petah Tikva Tuesday evening. The three MKs were Avi Dichter, Otniel Schneller and Yulia Shamalov Berkovich.
Ahead of the meeting Mofaz rejected what Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu had characterized as a compromise offer, to resolve the Tal Law crisis.
According to Mofaz, the offer was that fifty percent of haredim between the ages of 18-23 would be drafted by the IDF and another 50% would be drafted into national service between the ages of 23-26.
Mofaz said that the proposal violates the ruling of the High Court on the issue, the principle of equal sharing of the burden of military service, is not proportional and does not meet the ultimate test of effectively resolving the issue.
Mofaz also noted that the proposal did not include all draftable persons, and therefore, in reality, would merely maintain the unmanageable status quo.
At the Likud meeting the day before, Netanyahu denied reports quoting officials in his office saying that when the Knesset returns from its summer recess, the prime minister would initiate an election that would be held at the beginning of 2013.
The Supreme Court requires that an alternative bill to the Tal Law be passed by the end of the month.
The Knesset will vote Wednesday on a bill sponsored by Israel Beytenu that would require all 18- year-olds to serve. Coalition discipline will be enforced to ensure the bill’s defeat, but Netanyahu gave Israel Beytenu ministers and MKs special permission to support it.
“I hope everyone with a brain supports the bill,” Liberman told his faction at the Knesset. “I call upon Likud and Kadima to pass the simplest bill possible without shticks and tricks. All 18-year-olds must serve in army or national service, period.”
Opposition leader Shelly Yechimovich called upon Netanyahu and Mofaz to disperse the Knesset and advance the next election.
Saying that Kadima would not allow a "Tal Law 2," Mofaz rejected the idea of delaying military or national service to age 26, as opposed to Kadima's proposal that limited deferrals to 22. "There won't be a law that allows deferrals to age 26," Mofaz asserted.
Related:
"He who says 26, doesn't want true equality," said Mofaz, accusing the Likud of trying to sell a "make believe" equality. "I will continue to fight,'" he stated. "This '26 bill' doesn't stand any type of test."
"Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu chose to give up on our children," said Mofaz. "I will not... I stand by my words and wish us all luck in our shared goal of equalizing the burden. "
All but three Kadima MKs voted to leave the government at a faction meeting held in Petah Tikva Tuesday evening. The three MKs were Avi Dichter, Otniel Schneller and Yulia Shamalov Berkovich.
Ahead of the meeting Mofaz rejected what Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu had characterized as a compromise offer, to resolve the Tal Law crisis.
According to Mofaz, the offer was that fifty percent of haredim between the ages of 18-23 would be drafted by the IDF and another 50% would be drafted into national service between the ages of 23-26.
Mofaz said that the proposal violates the ruling of the High Court on the issue, the principle of equal sharing of the burden of military service, is not proportional and does not meet the ultimate test of effectively resolving the issue.
Mofaz also noted that the proposal did not include all draftable persons, and therefore, in reality, would merely maintain the unmanageable status quo.
At the Likud meeting the day before, Netanyahu denied reports quoting officials in his office saying that when the Knesset returns from its summer recess, the prime minister would initiate an election that would be held at the beginning of 2013.
The Supreme Court requires that an alternative bill to the Tal Law be passed by the end of the month.
The Knesset will vote Wednesday on a bill sponsored by Israel Beytenu that would require all 18- year-olds to serve. Coalition discipline will be enforced to ensure the bill’s defeat, but Netanyahu gave Israel Beytenu ministers and MKs special permission to support it.
“I hope everyone with a brain supports the bill,” Liberman told his faction at the Knesset. “I call upon Likud and Kadima to pass the simplest bill possible without shticks and tricks. All 18-year-olds must serve in army or national service, period.”
Opposition leader Shelly Yechimovich called upon Netanyahu and Mofaz to disperse the Knesset and advance the next election.