Yesh Atid threatens to dissolve Israeli government

The Yesh Atid Party in Israel has said that the coalition government is in danger following a freeze in the debate over the recruitment of religious students into the Israeli military. Members of the Perry Committee looking at the Burden Equality Act cannot agree on the issue of sanctions for those who avoid the draft.

According to Maariv newspaper, Yesh Atid demanded the imposition of “criminal penalties” on the draft dodgers in order to create true equality within Israeli society.

Likud ministers regard the demand as contrary to the coalition agreement between the two parties. Minister of Defence Moshe Ya’alon said that it had been agreed previously not to take any steps “which represent a declaration of war against pious Israelis”.

A statement by Yesh Atid challenged this interpretation: “The actions of Likud Beiteinu ministers within the commission are a flagrant violation of the agreement of the coalition. They also endanger the historic opportunity to enact a new law for equality in the burden [of military service].” Yesh Atid threatened that “the absence of compulsory military recruitment for all Israelis puts the present coalition government at risk.”