Netanyahu holding out hope for universal conscription deal with Kadima

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday he believes there still remains a possibility to reach an agreement with coalition partner Kadima regarding universal conscription.

Netanyahu added that if an alternative to replace the expiring Tal Law is not found by August 1, the state will revert to a status quo of everybody having to enlist at age 18.

“Let it be clear to the public — there will be no buffer period. Barring a legislative solution, we will turn to the Defense Service Law on August 1, which means recruitment for all persons aged 18,” the prime minister told his Likud faction in a meeting.

At the opening of the Likud meeting, Netanyahu said there was agreement between Likud and Kadima on a number of key issues, including personal penalties and recruitment quotas, and said the gaps that remain could be bridged.

The legislation Likud and Kadima hope to achieve should replace the outgoing Tal Law, which for 10 years provided ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students with a framework for exemption from service. The measure was struck down by the High Court earlier this year as unconstitutional.

Despite his expressed optimism, Netanyahu criticized what he described as “a double standard” by Kadima MKs regarding the recruitment of Arabs and the ultra-Orthodox.

“There are those who show great sensitivity for the unique difficulties facing the Arab sector, yet have no sensitivity whatsoever for the ultra-Orthodox sector,” he said. “Kadima is willing for the Arab conscription procedures to be settled by regulations, yet demand highly detailed legislation for the conscription procedures of the ultra-Orthodox.”

The prime minister criticized the bill submitted by Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman proposing immediate recruitment of all persons aged 18. Earlier today Liberman described the bill as simple, ”with no tricks or schticks,” requiring all 18-year-old Israelis to enlist in military or national service.

Netanyahu said the bill was identical to what would go into effect in the absence of any new legislation by August 1, and is therefore superfluous.

However, Netanyahu said he would not enforce coalition discipline on Liberman’s Yisrael Beytenu faction over the conscription bill, letting members vote their conscience.