PM to agree to individual sanctions against draft-dodgers

Netanyahu says disagreement over universal draft can be resolved; agrees to impose penalties on draft-dodgers

Attila Somfalvi|Published: 07.05.12 , 21:44

In what can be described as a potential breakthrough in the controversy over the universal draft law, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that he is willing to agree to the subject draft-dodgers to individual sanctions.

Netanyahu told Coalition faction leaders that the disagreements over the draft legislation can be resolved.

"I am willing to agree to individual sanctions that would be imposed on draft-dodgers, and not just on institutions," he added. He did not elaborate on the nature of the sanctions.

Earlier, the prime minister met with Minister Shaul Mofaz, but according to Kadima members no progress was made.

"Everyone is confused by Mofaz' behavior, and it's unclear whether one meeting is enough to understand where this is heading," a source close to the negotiations said. "Mofaz allowed Plesner to push everyone into a corner, and now we must deal with this entanglement."

Top Coalition officials slammed Mofaz, whose aides maintained earlier that they are not aware of any meeting scheduled with Netanyahu.

"Mofaz knew very well that he is about to meet with the prime minister," one source said. "(…) All he cares about is not being offended. Everyone knows that he has no intention of quitting the government."

Kadima officials said that the meeting was not productive, but noted that Mofaz reiterated his positions and made it clear he intends to stick to them. The two leaders agreed to continue the talks.

Earlier still, Netanyahu met with Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. The latter said that his party, Yisrael Beiteinu, can't support the Plesner Committee recommendations due to the fact that they fail to demand a general draft imposed at the age of 18.