A group of 11 MKs from Kadima has informed their party chief, Vice Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz, that they will not quit the coalition if he decides to pull the party out over the continuing disagreement surrounding the replacement for the Tal Law, which exempts haredi youth from military draft. Mofaz is expected to decide in the coming days on whether or not to remain in the Likud-led government. "We will not enable the departure from the government until we know that the legislative process has been full exhausted," the group wrote in a statement. "This is an historic opportunity." Several of the party's most senior MKs are part of the group of 11, including Avi Dichter, Dalia Itzik, Zeev Bielski, Otniel Schneller and Yulia Shamalov Berkovich. Most of the 11 even supported Mofaz in the party primaries against Tzipi Livni. Former MK Tzachi Hanegbi meanwhile has been in close contact with both the Prime Minister's Office and the 11 MKs. Should Mofaz decide to bolt the coalition, he may find himself in the opposition surrounded by his predecessor's supporters. Mofaz's situation is particularly complicated: A second group of Kadima MKs announced Monday that they would split from the party should Mofaz decide to remain in the coalition. "We opposed joining the coalition from the start," they said. "If Mofaz doesn't quit, we will split." It is likely that this group of MKs, which includes Shlomo Molla, Nino Abesadze, Robert Tiviaev, Orit Zuaretz and others, will refuse to remain in Kadima under Mofaz's leadership in any case and split to form their own faction. Mofaz met with many members of his faction Monday and told them that he will examine whether it is possible to push ahead in the negotiations with Likud over the new draft law in the coming days. Mofaz also met Monday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a continuing effort to resolve the dispute over replacing the Tal Law, which grants blanket army exemptions to haredi youth. The law is set to expire on August 1. Their close associates commented that Tuesday is expected to be a critical day in the talks, and that Mofaz seems to be closer to finding a compromise, than to splitting from the coalition. The main sticking point between the parties continues to be over the maximum age for draft deferral for haredim. The Likud wants to enable them to defer their enlistment until age 26, while Kadima believes the maximum age should be 23. A number of MKs have told Mofaz that he should set up a committee within the party to lead the talks with Likud currently led by two attorneys. Dichter's name has been mentioned several times as a possible chair for the committee, and Likud is apparently open to the idea. Additional efforts are also being made by Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe (Bogie) Ya'alon, as well as Minister Without Portfolio Yossi Peled and Defense Minister Ehud Barak to find a compromise draft for the bill. Speaking at the Likud Knesset faction meeting on Monday, Netanyahu commented on the ongoing discussions, saying "efforts to find a compromise that is agreeable to everyone have not yet born fruit, but our door remains open. We do not want a divided coalition, or a divided country. Last week, I understood that Kadima representatives were insisting on a formula that cannot be implemented, which would also lead to a divided nation. Anyone who spearheads attempts to enable the law to cut through the mountain, will not bring about an increase in the number of haredi recruits, but rather have the opposite affect." He went on to say that several agreements have already been reached with Mofaz, but there are still some differences. "I hope that by working together we will manage to overcome them in the coming days," he said. Barak also believes that a compromise may still be possible. "I very much hope that we won't miss the opportunity, and reach a deal," he said. On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is expected to put before the Knesset the draft law prepared by MK David Rotem of his Yisrael Beytenu party. "We need the simplest bill, which is service for all from age 18," he said. Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin announced Monday that if the government wants to pass a new law, he will extend the current Knesset session which is set to end next week, and delay the summer recess.
Over draft law, Mofaz is damned if he does, and damned if he doesn't
Eleven MKs warn Kadima chief they will remain in coalition if he bolts, while second group says they will splinter if he stays • Sources close to prime minister and Mofaz expect talks over Tal Law to continue, and say Mofaz is leaning toward compromise.
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