http://news.antiwar.com/2012/04/29/talk-of-early-israeli-elections-distracts-from-iran-war-debate/
Netanyahu’s comments put the possible early election in September or October, while opposition figures were pushing for a vote earlier in the summer. While the possible war has occupied most public attention in recent weeks, it has nothing to do with the sudden early vote calls.
Today’s opposition to the war included a very public spat in New York between Israeli Environmental Minister Gilad Erdan and former Mossad Chief Meir Dagan, with Erdan accusing Dagan of “sabotaging” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s efforts to gain support for the war, and Erdan talking up the long-standing efforts by Likud to legally bar former officials from speaking publicly on the possible attack.
Talk of Early Israeli Elections Distracts from Iran War Debate
Hints at Vote Shift Domestic Focus in Media
by Jason Ditz, April 29, 2012
The Israeli media’s focus, squarely on the accusations by former officials that the current government is on the verge of starting a dangerous and unjustified war with Iran, took a dramatic swerve today when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu raised the prospect of an early vote.
Netanyahu’s comments put the possible early election in September or October, while opposition figures were pushing for a vote earlier in the summer. While the possible war has occupied most public attention in recent weeks, it has nothing to do with the sudden early vote calls.
Rather officials say it is the ongoing dispute over the Tal Law, the legal system to determine who is and who isn’t conscripted into government and military service, which is driving a wedge between the far right coalition’s religious and secular blocs.
Since the creation of the coalition, cutting out the moderate right-wing Kadima Party in favor of a cobbled together group including Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu, it has seemed inevitable that the two could not coexist forever. Though Yisrael Beiteinu seems determined to push the issue on drafting ultra-Orthodox, other secular officials have tried to shift the debate by centering on ways to force Arabs into mandatory government service.
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http://news.antiwar.com/2012/04/29/former-israeli-officials-speaking-out-against-rush-to-iran-war/
Former Israeli Officials Speaking Out Against Rush to Iran War
Olmert: Definitely Not Time to Attack Iran
by Jason Ditz, April 29, 2012
A growing chorus of top former Israeli officials are speaking out in opposition to an Israeli attack on Iran, with former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert the latest to declare that now is “definitely not” the time to attack Iran.
Today’s opposition to the war included a very public spat in New York between Israeli Environmental Minister Gilad Erdan and former Mossad Chief Meir Dagan, with Erdan accusing Dagan of “sabotaging” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s efforts to gain support for the war, and Erdan talking up the long-standing efforts by Likud to legally bar former officials from speaking publicly on the possible attack.
Dagan went on to defend former Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin, who on Friday had also criticized Netanyahu’s “messianic” administration, though he did say he wished Diskin had spoken sooner instead of waiting until now.
Israel’s current political administration, hawkish to a man on the Iran strike, has repeatedly publicly condemned Dagan and others for speaking out against the prospect of the attack, accusing them of playing for political gain.
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