Kadima leaves government

The national unity coalition born nine weeks ago is dead, but the government lives as it did before Kadima left the Opposition.

By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

The national unity coalition born nine weeks ago is dead, but the government lives with a solid majority of 65 Knesset Members, as it did before Kadima left the Opposition.

Party chairman Shaul Mofaz announced Tuesday evening that the party faction voted 24-3 to pull out of the coalition because of what he said was Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s failure to live up a supposed agreement on changes in the draft law.

Although the concept of universal draft is the ostensible issue, Mofaz has used it is a ploy to try to boost his weakened party, but his see-saw political maneuvers may leave him as the loser. Likud officials received his announcement with comments of “goodbye and we will not meet again.”

The current Tal Law expires August 1 by order of the court, which ruled it is unconstitutional. The Tal law provided for IDF deferment for yeshiva students who learn Torah but also was aimed at increasing the number of Torah students who serve in the army.

Mofaz joined the coalition in early May, making a “universal draft” its main platform. A committee headed by Kadima Knesset Member Yochanan Plesner discussed proposed legislation to replace the Tal Law, but opposition from MKs from several parties left the panel in disarray. Prime Minister Netanyahu dissolved it, arousing the ire of Mofaz, who the following day brought out Plesner to announce the proposals.

The suggested legislation concentrated on hareidi religious youth, with heavy sanction against those refuse, while only vaguely relating to the Arab sector.

Mofaz threatened to quit the coalition, Prime Minister Netanyahu did not flinch, and now the Kadima chairman has put himself back where he was two months ago – leading a weakened party that could disintegrate in the next elections, according to the polls.

Kadima’s joining the coalition was viewed as a move that would have prevented early elections, as early as September.

Nine weeks later, Prime Minister Netanyahu theoretically could try to hold on until the end of the Knesset term in October 2013, but he is almost certain to “quit while he is ahead” and call for elections late this year or early next year.

The next 10 days are critical, because he needs to find a replacement for the Tal Law to prevent a universal draft from taking effect and throwing the IDF and the civilian service into havoc in order to try to cope with the sudden change.

Mofaz, whose political talents are shadowed by his military ability when he was IDF Chief of Staff, leaves the coalition after rejecting Netanyahu’s suggestion that hareidi religious youth could defer enlistment until age 23 while giving incentives to those who serve at a younger age. Beyond the age of 23, they would serve in the civilian service.

Mofaz charged that the proposal “contradicts the ruling of the High Court of Justice” and does not conform the principle of equality.

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Mofaz announces Kadima leaving Netanyahu coalition
Deputy Prime Minister and chairman of Kadima Shaul Mofaz says ‘there is no choice’ but to end the 70-day partnership with Likud Party after talks on a new universal national service law failed.
By Jonathan Lis , HAARETZ

Deputy Prime Minister and chairman of Kadima Shaul Mofaz announced on Tuesday that his Kadima party is leaving the governing coalition following disagreements over a universal draft law.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu submitted early Tuesday afternoon what he termed a new and far-reaching legislative proposal intended to resolve the quarrel between Likud and Kadima regarding the wording of a new law which would equalize the burden of army service. The document was forwarded by Netanyahu confidant attorney David Shimron to attorney Alon Gellert, who has represented Kadima in talks between the parties. Sources close to the negotiations claimed that the proposal is intended to partly accept Kadima’s demand that Haredim up to age 23 be drafted.

According to the Netanyahu proposal, the oldest age at which ultra-Orthodox would be drafted into the army will be 23. At the same time, incentives will be granted to Haredim who enlist at age 18. However, based on the Netanyahu proposal, young Haredim would be able to continue to push off their draft: Anyone who does not enlist until age 23 will not be able to enlist into the army, but only into an operational civil service that would include firefighting units, Magen David Adom, the Israel Police and the Prisons Service.

“Netanyahu thinks this is a proposal on the basis of which it is possible to reach agreement and bring about a historic and responsible change, the likes of which have not been seen since the establishment of the state,” said sources involved in the negotiations.

Mofaz rejected the prime minister’s proposal, which was submitted this morning. “Based on the proposal that was rejected, between the ages 18-23, for a lengthy period of time, only 50 percent of target subjects for the military draft would be drafted. Whereas 50 percent of those subject to the draft at ages 23-26 would be directed toward civil service,” Mofaz explained. “Netanyahu’s proposal contradicts the ruling of the High Court of Justice, does not conform to the principle of equality, is disproportionate and does not meet the tests of effectiveness that are set down in the High Court’s ruling, or the principles of the committee on equalizing the burden of IDF service. Let’s make this clear: We are referring to enlistment targets that do not include all of those eligible for the draft, and we are therefore countenancing a ‘word- laundering’ that in effect leaves the situation as it was.”

A senior Kadima official stated in response that the proposal is complete rubbish. “This is the same proposal that has been sent to us before, one time through (Ya’alon) and another time through (Ze’ev) Elkin. There is no compulsory draft here up to age 23.”

On Monday, Netanyahu expressed optimism regarding the two parties’ ability to formulate a joint legislative bill. Mofaz refused to say if he is set to leave the coalition, only stating, “We still face lengthy negotiations.”

Chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu faction Avigdor Lieberman announced Monday that his party had received an irregular sanction by the coalition executive to support the draft law initiated by the party, even though the coalition had decided to oppose the law unilaterally. The law will be put up for the vote on Thursday.

In the past few days, feverish contacts have been held in an attempt to instigate a splintering of the party, such that seven faction members identified with the right would link with the Netanyahu coalition following the party’s withdrawal from the coalition. Nonetheless, this number of MKs has not yet been reached. In the meantime, neither has the possible withdrawal of another group, supporters of Tzipi Livni, been resolved; such a group would serve as the vanguard of a new centrist party in the Knesset.