While Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was visiting the U.S. for the AIPAC conference and to meet with President Donald Trump, he took some time on Tuesday to send a message to his coalition partners in Israel. The main idea of the message was that either the various parties agree on a long-term solution with regards to the conscription law, or the Knesset will head to elections.

A senior official in the government told Yediot Acharonot News Agency that: “There is no reason for this government to continue plodding through this issue just to break down again in May. Therefore, Netanyahu either wants a long-term solution or he will call elections. Netanyahu’s first preference is to reach an agreement that will allow this government to fulfill its mandate and continue until 2019. The other option is elections now.”

Sources within the Charedi parties as well as in the Likud have been claiming that without Netanyahu’s personal intervention regarding this issue, no agreement will be reached by the various factions at play.

The Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of Agudas Yisroel that instructs the Degel Hatorah party, one of the factions that makes up the UTJ party, with regards to certain policies, is expected to meet on Wednesday evening in order to discuss the matter and decide on a plan of action that has been presented to the Rabbonim.

According to statements being made by the Degel Hatorah party, its three Knesset members, Moshe Gafni, Uri Maklev, and Yaakov Asher, will agree to a worthwhile compromise regarding the conscription law. UTJ faction leader and Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman has already stated that he will not accept any compromise on the issue.

Sources close to Litzman said that: “While he doesn’t want elections, he will not hesitate to take that step should a new conscription law not be voted upon before the  budget is passed as was mandated by the High Council of Rabbis.” Those sources also stated that Litzman believed that Netanyahu was not interested in finding a solution. If he or the Likud were, then they would be working harder to solve the crisis.

Over the past few days, countless attempts have been made to present solutions to the crisis surrounding the conscription law and the budget, however, little to no headway has been made. Moshe Kahlon, head of the Kulanu party said earlier today that he does not intend to move from his previously stated position of either passing a budget before Pesach or resigning from the government and pulling his party out of the coalition.

While Litzmann refuses to vote on a budget prior to the passing of the conscription law, Kahlon holds the exact opposite position and will not vote on the conscription law prior to the passing of the budget.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)