RAMALLAH, West Bank: Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Monday proposed a new regulation that would allow only those Israelis who served in the army or completed national service eligible for the Foreign Ministry’s cadet program.
Lieberman made the proposal during a meeting of the Foreign Ministry’s administrative committee on Monday, saying “anyone who wants to represent the country to the outside world must take part in our obligations.” He vowed to bring the issue before the Knesset (Parliament) where “we will work to change the legislation in a way that will enable us to enact this new procedure.”
If the new procedure is put into effect, it would restrict Arabs and members of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community from becoming Foreign Ministry cadets. Currently, five Arabs work as diplomats in the ministry. A few months ago, the Foreign Ministry announced plans to open a cadet course geared toward members of minority communities in Israel. It is unclear how Lieberman’s proposal would affect that plan.
Talab El-Sana, member of the Knesset, described Lieberman’s decision as “miserable and racist.” “This man has gone out of his mind and is firing in all directions,” he said.
“Is this a foreign ministry or an army headquarters? This is racism under the guise of military service,” El-Sana of United Arab List party, told Arab News.
Israel Beiteinu, the party Lieberman heads, was harshly criticized by the Arab leadership inside Israel after introducing the controversial “loyalty oath” bill which would curb the rights of Arab citizens.
Under the bill, anyone seeking citizenship, including people moving to Israel and 16-year-olds obtaining their first identity cards, would have to make the following vow: “I pledge to be loyal to the State of Israel as a Jewish, Zionist and democratic state, to its symbols and values, and to serve the state in any way asked of me in military service as required by law.”
The bill would also empower the interior minister to cancel the citizenship of Israelis who do not fulfill their compulsory military or alternative national service.
