Israeli newest coalition partner mulls pullout

aimed at imposing military service on the country’s ultra-Orthodox Jewish community.
A series of phone calls between lawyers representing both parties failed to yield a breakthrough in negotiations, and Mofaz was expected to hold a Press conference later in the day.
“If nothing happens (to end the conflict with Likud), I believe it is a correct conclusion (that Mofaz would seriously consider quitting on Tuesday),” The Jerusalem Post quoted a Mofaz associate as saying.
“It is not an ultimatum. It is due to the fact that there is no progress,” he added.
Early in May, Netanyahu and Mofaz shocked entire political spectrum with the announcement of a unity government deal, which brought aboard Kadima’s 28 lawmakers, making for a massive 94-member coalition.
Kadima officials, who previously criticised Netanyahu’s leadership skills, welcomed the move, saying that it would afford Netanyahu greater political stability while enabling their party to promote a host of domestic issues — including mandatory military service for the country’s religiously observant.
The partnership began to wobble amid a heated debate over a new draft bill, leaving Netanyahu scrambling in recent weeks to please all of his coalition partners and prevent a political crisis.
Two weeks ago, the prime minister dissolved the Plesner Committee he tasked with drafting a replacement to the so-called Tal Law, which allows religious seminary students to defer their conscription indefinitely and has long raised the ire of other sectors of Israeli society. — Xinhua.