Israel/Palestine
Related: About this forumNetanyahu Considers Elections Amid Exemptions Dispute
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he may call early elections because of disagreements with parties within his coalition over military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews and Arabs.
Netanyahu told lawmakers from his Likud party that the escalating disputes over military service may lead to elections within months instead of in 2013 as scheduled, Culture Minister Limor Livnat told Israel Radio. The friction comes as Netanyahu faces mounting criticism over his posture toward Iran and stalemate in peace efforts with the Palestinians.
“The prime minister said in a very clear manner that he will not give in to extortion, and if various factions make various demands, then we’ll have elections this year,” Livnat said today.
Israel’s Supreme Court in February invalidated the so- called Tal Law that has enabled more than 50,000 students a year in ultra-Orthodox seminaries to avoid being drafted for military service, which is obligatory for Israeli Jewish men and women. Shas and United Torah Judaism, two religious parties in the coalition, are demanding a restoration of deferrals. Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman, head of the Yisrael Beitenu party, has led opposition to the deferrals and is demanding that Arab citizens perform alternative non-military service.
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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-29/netanyahu-may-call-elections-amid-military-service-dispute-1-.html
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oberliner
(58,724 posts)What do you think of the Tal Law?
Purveyor
(29,876 posts)when it is their sons and daughters going to battle and vote accordingly.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)I'm not sure how I feel about it myself. At times I think I agree with you, but I've also been convinced otherwise. Good thing I'm not running for office!
Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)Prime Minister Netanyahu asks advisors to look into possibility of holding early national elections this summer.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked his advisors to explore the possibility of holding August or September elections and is leaning towards this option, Ynet has learned.
Netanyahu has been reported as saying "If we're going to elections, then let's make it as soon as possible." He named two possible dates for Knesset elections – August 14 or September 4.
Senior officials in the coalition remarked, "There is no going back. The elections will be held in a few months." They added that there is little chance for an agreement to be reached on the Tal Law issue.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4222240,00.html
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Though, who knows what the replacement might look like.
