Israeli strengthen coalition 'Unity government'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday
reiterated his commitment to implementing the terms of a newly formed
unity government with the centrist Kadima party.Netanyahu and Shaul Mofaz, the leader of Kadima, stunned the
political establishment and the nation last Tuesday with the
announcement of a deal that brought Kadima into the government, making
for a massive 94-member coalition, the largest in Israel's history.
Joint press conference, Netanyahu and Mofaz deemed the partnership as "historic," one that would enable the government to address critical issues confronting the country.
They said the agreement they reached stipulates four main issues: promoting alternative legislation to the Tal Law, which enables religious seminary students to defer mandatory military service; changing the electoral system; passing a budget; and advancing the peace process.
Briefing Ministers Sunday's weekly cabinet session, Netanyahu said that an inter-party team would be appointed in the coming days to formulate alternatives to the Tal Law."By the end of July we will pass a law that will more equally and justly distribute the burden [of military service] without pitting one public against the other," Netanyahu said in his opening remarks.
He said that another team would soon be established to lead the reform in the electoral system and to draft a "responsible" budget in a way that has so far enabled Israel to weather the global economic crisis.
Sunday's cabinet meeting was the 150th of the current government and the first attended by Mofaz, who recently pledged to lead Israel's second round of summer social protests and criticized Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak's saber- rattling on Iran's clandestine nuclear program.
Netanyahu congratulated Mofaz and Kadima's lawmakers on joining the coalition, saying that "many tasks" await the new coalition.Last week, Mofaz was sworn in as minister without portfolio and is due to become vice premier and the ninth member of Netanyahu's security cabinet.
Joint press conference, Netanyahu and Mofaz deemed the partnership as "historic," one that would enable the government to address critical issues confronting the country.
They said the agreement they reached stipulates four main issues: promoting alternative legislation to the Tal Law, which enables religious seminary students to defer mandatory military service; changing the electoral system; passing a budget; and advancing the peace process.
Briefing Ministers Sunday's weekly cabinet session, Netanyahu said that an inter-party team would be appointed in the coming days to formulate alternatives to the Tal Law."By the end of July we will pass a law that will more equally and justly distribute the burden [of military service] without pitting one public against the other," Netanyahu said in his opening remarks.
He said that another team would soon be established to lead the reform in the electoral system and to draft a "responsible" budget in a way that has so far enabled Israel to weather the global economic crisis.
Sunday's cabinet meeting was the 150th of the current government and the first attended by Mofaz, who recently pledged to lead Israel's second round of summer social protests and criticized Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak's saber- rattling on Iran's clandestine nuclear program.
Netanyahu congratulated Mofaz and Kadima's lawmakers on joining the coalition, saying that "many tasks" await the new coalition.Last week, Mofaz was sworn in as minister without portfolio and is due to become vice premier and the ninth member of Netanyahu's security cabinet.
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