Lieberman to Coalition Chairman: Convene Knesset During Recess to Immediately Pass Conscription Law
Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman has demanded that coalition chairman Ofir Katz convene the Knesset during the summer recess to pass a universal conscription law, citing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent shift in position.
Following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statement against the temporary detention law, Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman turned on Monday to coalition chairman MK Ofir Katz with a demand to convene the Knesset plenum during the summer recess and pass a conscription law.
In a letter, Lieberman stated:
"I am turning to you in light of the change in the Prime Minister's position regarding the issue of drafting yeshiva students, as published in various media outlets, according to which 'the temporary detention law was intended to lower the flames and increase the number of recruits in the ultra-Orthodox public, in practice it did not succeed and therefore there will be no such law in the next government. After the elections, we will establish a broad national government that will immediately pass a full conscription law that will meet the needs of the IDF, whoever does not study Torah will be drafted or go to prison'."
According to Lieberman, if this is indeed the Prime Minister's position and not a smoke screen due to the Likud's decline in the polls, there is no justification to wait until after the elections. The State of Israel needs a full conscription law that will provide an answer to the needs of the IDF and the principle of equality in the burden.
Lieberman argued that the government has the authority to convene the Knesset plenum even during the summer recess, especially on issues that are the order of the hour.
"Under the current circumstances, when the IDF is dealing with unprecedented pressure on reserve and regular soldiers, and the need to expand the circle of those serving is clear and agreed upon, this is exactly the case that justifies the exercise of this authority," he stated.
"Therefore, I call on you, as coalition chairman, to act immediately to convene the Knesset plenum and bring to a vote an equal conscription law that will apply to all citizens of Israel. I commit that if a conscription law for all is indeed brought, all the Zionist opposition factions will stand behind it and come to vote in its favor," he added.
