Shaking up Israeli politics

Former Israeli communications minister and founder of the Reservists Movement, Yoaz Hendel, has called for radical changes to Israeli democracy.

The political activist believes voting rights and holding public office should be restricted to those who serve in the military or national service.

Recent polls have suggested if he led a political party, it could win up to eight or nine seats in the Knesset.

Hendel was speaking during a visit to this country organised by the Zionist Federation of Australia, where he spoke at the ZFA plenary conference.

He argued the current system in which ultra-Orthodox Jews receive military exemptions while others bear the burden of reserve duty is unsustainable.