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Liberman: Our obligation to the coalition is over

By JPOST.COM STAFF

APRIL 28, 2012 18:54

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman on Saturday said that his Yisrael Beytenu faction was "no longer obligated" to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition, the future of which he said hinges on implementing an alternative to the "Tal Law" which ensures "enlistment for everyone."

Speaking on Channel 2's 'Meet the Press', Liberman said that for the last three years Yisrael Beytenu has done all in its power to keep the coalition together. The foreign minister stated that while it is in the national interest to keep the coalition together and hold general elections on their originally scheduled date in 2013, Israel Beitenu will not be "held hostage."

Liberman voiced dissatisfaction with the government's failure to live up to promises made in the coalition agreement on the issue of religion and state. Liberman specifically brought up the issue of conversions and army enlistment.

The foreign minister said that talk of new elections was unnecessary at this point and would be explored after Yisrael Beytenu's Tal Law alternative was put to a Knesset vote on May 9. The Tal Law – declared illegal by the High Court of Justice in February – provided the legal framework for ultra-Orthodox men to defer IDF service indefinitely. Yisrael Beytenu’s alternative to the Tal Law would require almost all 18-year-olds, regardless of faith or religious observance, to enlist in either the IDF or fulfill national service.

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