Public service, not publc reward. Rivlin
Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg
Yes to doctors, no to managers
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Rivlin: Public service shouldn't favor ex-soldiers
Knesset speaker slams Lieberman bill aiming to give preference to those who completed military, national service in civil service jobs
Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin on Tuesday said that a bill meant to give preference to those who served in the army or did national service in admittance into public service positions "is contradictory to the principle of equal opportunity."
Speaking at a conference on absorption of Arab workers into the public service, Rivlin said "ex-soldiers and those who did national service should be rewarded with housing, scholarships, and grants, but not with benefits that will harm other sectors and the special role of the public service.
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"We must not turn public service into public reward," he added.
According to the controversial bill – initiated by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's party Yisrael Beiteinu – if two candidates with equal qualifications apply for a civil service position, the candidate who completed regular service in the army, Border Guard, or other units in the police or national service will be given preference.
Last month, the Knesset passed the bill in first reading and referred it to the Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee.
"We must preserve the sanctity of the civil service and its makeup, which is the embodiment of all the groups comprising the Israeli society, including those the State has officially exempt from military service," Rivlin noted.
MK Ahmad Tibi (United Arab List-Ta'al), one of the organizers of the conference, claimed that the State of Israel treats the Arab minority with superiority. "Jews agree to be operated on by Arab doctors but push them out of management positions.
'If the Congressmen were aware of the grim data on discrimination against Arab citizens, perhaps they would have less applauded Netanyahu's false presentation," Tibi said, referring to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech before the US Congress.
MK Zahava Gal-On (Meretz) called to impose sanctions on civil service officials that refuse to hire Arabs as stipulated by law.
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