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| Netanyahu faces Israel coalition crisis amid row over military service | Netanyahu faces Israel coalition crisis amid row over military service |
| (30 days later) | |
| Binyamin Netanyahu's recently expanded unity government is facing a crisis and the potential loss of a key partner in a row over whether compulsory military service should be extended to ultra-orthodox Jews. | Binyamin Netanyahu's recently expanded unity government is facing a crisis and the potential loss of a key partner in a row over whether compulsory military service should be extended to ultra-orthodox Jews. |
| The Israeli prime minister this week disbanded a committee set up to look at ways of reforming the law on the military draft, which has been struck down by Israel's supreme court. A new law must be enacted by 1 August. | The Israeli prime minister this week disbanded a committee set up to look at ways of reforming the law on the military draft, which has been struck down by Israel's supreme court. A new law must be enacted by 1 August. |
| The issue was a key factor in the decision of the largest party in the Israeli parliament, Kadima, to abandon opposition and join Netanyahu's coalition in May. The prime minister promised reform of the so-called Tal Law to require ultra-orthodox Jews to serve in the army. The ultra-orthodox oppose any change to their exemption to military service to pursue religious studies. | The issue was a key factor in the decision of the largest party in the Israeli parliament, Kadima, to abandon opposition and join Netanyahu's coalition in May. The prime minister promised reform of the so-called Tal Law to require ultra-orthodox Jews to serve in the army. The ultra-orthodox oppose any change to their exemption to military service to pursue religious studies. |
| Shaul Mofaz, Kadima's leader, has threatened to walk out of the coalition in protest over the disbanding of the committee. Its chairman said it will go ahead with publishing its report and recommendations this week. If Netanyanu did not use the report as the basis for reforming the law, "the national unity government will come to an end", said Mofaz. | Shaul Mofaz, Kadima's leader, has threatened to walk out of the coalition in protest over the disbanding of the committee. Its chairman said it will go ahead with publishing its report and recommendations this week. If Netanyanu did not use the report as the basis for reforming the law, "the national unity government will come to an end", said Mofaz. |
| Many secular Israelis are opposed to exemptions for military service for the ultra-orthodox, saying it forces their children to shoulder an unfair burden. The exemption originally applied to only a few hundred religious students, but the numbers have swollen to around 60,000. | Many secular Israelis are opposed to exemptions for military service for the ultra-orthodox, saying it forces their children to shoulder an unfair burden. The exemption originally applied to only a few hundred religious students, but the numbers have swollen to around 60,000. |
| Parties representing the ultra-orthodox community, which fiercely oppose reform of the law, have been a powerful influence within the governing coalition. The entry of Kadima, a centre-right secular party, diminished the leverage of the ultra-orthodox parties. | Parties representing the ultra-orthodox community, which fiercely oppose reform of the law, have been a powerful influence within the governing coalition. The entry of Kadima, a centre-right secular party, diminished the leverage of the ultra-orthodox parties. |
| The committee, which was headed by a Kadima member of parliament, Yohanan Plesner, also looked at the possibility of Israeli-Arabs undergoing compulsory military service. Arab citizens of Israel are not currently drafted. | The committee, which was headed by a Kadima member of parliament, Yohanan Plesner, also looked at the possibility of Israeli-Arabs undergoing compulsory military service. Arab citizens of Israel are not currently drafted. |
| Military service usually begins after school at the age of 18, and lasts three years for men and two years for women. | Military service usually begins after school at the age of 18, and lasts three years for men and two years for women. |
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