Mofaz: Focusing on social issues
צילום: גיל יוחנן
Mofaz warns against Likud split
Defense minister opens elections campaign, says ruling party should focus on social issues. Likud can win 40 Knesset seats with Sharon at the helm, Mofaz says
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz has spoken out against a Likud split, warning that failure to heal the post-disengagement rift could greatly undermine the ruling party.
“It’s legitimate to disagree with a move (the pullout,) but it’s illegitimate to continue the rift after the move is over,” he said during a meeting with Likud activists in the southern town of Kiryat Gat Friday.
Addressing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s possible departure, Mofaz said: “With Sharon, the Likud can win 40 Knesset seats.”
At the outset of his talk, the defense minister stressed that he refuses to speak about security issues and prefers to direct his attention to socioeconomic issues.
“A relatively large gap has been created within Israeli society,” he said. “With a little compassion, we could have achieved the same goals without increasing the gaps. At the same time, I believe that those who were hurt by the economic plan would not be willing to vote for diplomatic initiatives presented by the Labor party.”
“The Likud speaks to the heart of Israeli society,” Mofaz said.
Will military service be shortened?
The minister added the gaps must be narrowed in outlaying areas in both the short and long run.
“In the short run we must offer jobs and compensation to the weak, and in the long run we must boost investment in education,” he said. “I’m a big believer in education and I wish every government ministry would invest as much as the Defense Ministry invests in educating soldiers. We’ll feel the results of such moves in about a decade.”
Meanwhile, Mofaz revealed he has appointed a committee to look into shortening the mandatory military service term by six months.
“When soldiers in Israel are discharged from the army, young people in the Western world already have a BA or an MA,” the minister said. “Shortening the service would narrow this gap to some extent…the State should pay for the academic studies of every soldier.”
