Kadima could split over Israeli Arab draft requirements
MK Otniel Schneller warns that compromise on principle of equal service would drive several colleagues to join Livni in establishing new party
The Kadima part could split in two, MK Otniel Schneller said Thursday evening, if the Knesset committee drafting recommendations to replace the Tal Law does not demand identical terms of national service for the Arab and ultra-Orthodox sectors.
Speaking on Israeli Radio, Schneller criticized the Plesner Committee’s plans to recommend much lighter demands of Israeli Arabs for military and civilian national service than those for Haredim.
Schneller and several other Kadima MKs will insist that all segments of society share equally in the burden of national service, he said, adding that they would likely join recently ousted party chair Tzipi Livni in forming a new party, or joining the nascent Yesh Atid party headed by television personality Yair Lapid, if the issue was not resolved satisfactorarily.
The Times of Israel Community.