Kadima quits Netanyahu government over conscription law PressTV.ir
Handcuffed ultra-Orthodox Jews participate in a demo against attempts to draft members of the community into the Israeli military in an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood in al-Quds (Jerusalem) on July 16, 2012.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lost a key coalition partner in a row over conscription for seminary students.
The centrist Kadima party, which has 28 MPs, decided to pull out of Netanyahu’s coalition government on Tuesday after the two sides failed to reach an agreement on an alternative to the Tal Law, Xinhua reported.
"It is with deep regret that I say that there is no choice but to decide to leave the government," Kadima party leader Shaul Mofaz said on Tuesday.
Under the disputed law, which Mofaz called unconstitutional, ultra-Orthodox Jews are exempt from military or community service as long as they are engaged in full-time religious studies. An alternative to the law must be passed by the end of this month as it is due to expire on August 1. Read More
