Kadima party leader Shaul Mofaz convened an emergency meeting of his faction on Tuesday and recommended it quit Israel's government, media reports said, in a dispute over drafting ultra-Orthodox Jews into the military,

Kadima joined Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling Likud party in government only two months ago, with the declared aim of ending blanket conscription exemptions for seminary students. Kadima legislators were expected to vote on Mofaz's recommendation later in the day. A party spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

Kadima's move, after it failed to reach agreement on a new conscription law with Netanyahu, would not immediately threaten his government. If Kadima lawmakers leave the coalition, he will still have a majority in parliament.