Opposition split on draft law: Yesh Atid to support, Labor to oppose
Labor leader Gabbay says proposed legislation 'has no equality in carrying the burden of service or real rewards for serving soldiers'; Lapid says proposal is the same as the law his own party passed in 2014, urging Defense Minister Lieberman not to capitulate to Haredi pressure.
As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to reach consensus in the coalition over proposed legislation to replace the Israeli Defense Service Law, it appears the opposition is also split on the matter, with Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid saying Monday his party will support the legislation, while Labor leader Avi Gabbay said his party would oppose to it.
"I'm saying this now, clearly—we will vote against the draft law," Gabbay said. "Our principles are known—we want every young man and woman to either do military service, national service or civic service."
He explained the current proposal does not address that. "This proposal has no equality in carrying the burden of service or real rewards for serving soldiers," he said.
MK Lapid, on the other hand, asserted the proposed draft law is "a repeat of Yesh Atid's law," which was passed in March 2014 when his party was in the coalition and amended after the 2015 elections, following which his party was left in the opposition.
"This time, both the IDF and the chief of staff support this plan," Lapid said.
He called on the government not to give in to pressure from the ultra-Orthodox parties and make changes to the proposed bill.
"I have no expectations from the prime minister, his capitulation is his way. But the defense minister cannot change even one word in this plan. He made a commitment to the public that he would give full backing to the IDF and Defense Ministry. If he changes one word of the plan, it would be a capitulation," Lapid added.
Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, meanwhile, said he hoped to bring the proposed legislation to the Knesset for discussion by next week and pass it into law by the end of the month, which is also the end of the legislature's summer session.
"This is the most balanced and stately law," Lieberman said, asserting that "There's consensus about the bill in both the coalition and opposition."
He called on members of Knesset "to leave your disputes and score-settling behind and unite around the plan formulated by the defense establishment."
Education Minister Naftali Bennett rejected claims of a crisis in the coalition over the legislation, dubbing it a "fake crisis."
Bennett said the proposed legislation is "a proportional law that provides solutions for everyone—a moderate and proportional recruitment of ultra-Orthodox without coercion or force."
"I believe this thing is entirely solvable. This bill can pass. We'll cooperate and help resolve this matter to maintain a stable government until the elections," he added.
Coalition leaders—with the exception of Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman and Interior Minister Aryeh Deri—met to discuss the legislation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made it clear to the Haredi parties that they must form a unified position about the plan and reach agreements within two weeks, so the legislation can be brought to the government for approval.
