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Bill: Citizens who didn’t complete army service can't be MKs
Moran Azulay
Published: 10.01.12, 18:08
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1. At least an intelligent bill ! Please pass it.
Ezra   (01.10.12)
2. GOOD IDEA AND ABOUT TIME
LAWRENCE ,   SAFED ISRAEL   (01.10.12)
Israel does not need traitors in the knesset.
3. smart
will ,   wa,usa   (01.10.12)
I am a US citizen, I only wish we had something like this here.
4. Liberman knows this will never pass
zionist forever   (01.10.12)
Arabs are not obligated to serve. Haredi are not obligated to serve. Some people wouldn't have served for medical reasons . Olim may have not served, Liberman himself was to old for national service when he came to Israel so this law would have excluded him. if we want to introduce a bill like this we first need to obligate by law arabs & haredi to do either civilian or military service and we need to have legitimate get out clauses like health. If we are going to banning people from the Knesset based on their lack of IDF service then we should be looking to the draft dodgers who are legally obligated to serve but refuse out of ideology. This bill is just mischief making and nobody seriously expects it to go anywhere.
5. Absolutely, serve your country or don't lead it.
Bunnie Meyer ,   Los Angeles, CA USA   (01.10.12)
6. Who is eligible to be a member of the Knesset
Steve Goodman ,   Israel   (01.10.12)
A great idea.....IF YOU CAN,T WALK THE WALK....YOU CAN,T TALK THE TALK......
7. IDF service & Knesset
NNF ,   ISRAEL   (01.10.12)
Now I know another reason I will vote for Yisrael Beteinu again. This proposal is the best news I've heard for ages. No more privilages for the lazy or hostile. The idea should be extended to many other fields. But exceptions must be made for invalids and others with incapacities which prevent them from serving.
8. I 1000% agree!
Abraham Nachmias ,   Petach Tikva IL   (01.10.12)
And more than that, people who did serve but teach their children not to (like Ehud Olmert and Eli Yshay) should also be banned!
9. Very fair but the law must be tweaked
William ,   Israel   (01.10.12)
The unfortunate result would be a dissolving of the Arab and Haradi parties meaning a huge part of Israeli society goes unrepresented. Now I see the problem with the above statement....most Arab MKs are virulently anti-Israel and work more for the "Palestinians" then they do their own Israeli Arab constituents.... however, the law as it exists now poses a problem. I would then broaden the definition of National Service to include certain pro-citizen activities which can be performed within the respective communities with ease. That would take care of the Haradim but sadly, due to the racism of Arab MKs, Israeli Arabs would still be barred from doing service, even if it benefited ONLY the Arab community, because it would give validity to the State of the Israel that these Arab MKs do not want... ironically, while they accept a salary and benefits from the same State they despise.
10. I think this bill definitely works, but it should not go
Henry from New York ,   USA   (01.10.12)
into effect until after the next election (though that might be the plan). It would encourage Arab Israelis who want to take part in politics to serve in the IDF and would do the same for kharedim. My concern is that if these groups are left without representation then they will feel even more alienated, but I could be wrong. At least the Druze don't have to worry.
11. INSANE
Moshe ,   Jerusalem   (01.10.12)
Lieberman must be stopped, what is happening to my beloved Israel? All rationality has been replaced with insanity! LIEBERMAN NEVER SERVED IN THE ARMY... let him have his tzav rishon now!!!
12. Why don't we become Soviet Russia 2 and be done with it?
PaulZion ,   Israel   (01.10.12)
13. William #9 I disagree
Gee ,   Zikron Yaakov   (01.10.12)
The choices might be more limited, but there are enough Arabs and Haredim that do meet the qualifications to represent those sectors, As for those that are not fit, I'll bet we have more than enough disabled veterans to represent them as well.
14. #11 - Don't you realise that this bill would do just that
Henry from New York ,   USA   (01.10.12)
then? If he did not serve then he would be ineligible to run. It makes sense that if you're a citizen and you claim to love Israel you will take part in military service.
15. Knesset members are supposed to be role models."
Liz   (01.10.12)
ha ha ha... that is why his colleague, Ms Michaeli threw a glass of water at another Knesset member... some role models...
16. excellent bill
alexi   (01.10.12)
If arab israelis want to be MKs, they will have to do at least national service of some type. without it, sorry no go because all citizens must do their duty. Now as for those able to do idf service like the haredi or draft evaders , they will have to do their service to be an mk. That would also apply to olmert who did idf service but got out of combat. Reasons will have to be fully justified.
17. #3 - When was the last time we actually had to defend the
Henry from New York ,   USA   (01.10.12)
homeland? I would prefer to serve in the IDF after my education is finished and die there than to die in the US Army in some godforsaken place like Iraq or Afghanistan - I would prefer to die for something I actually care about (meaning I would join the US Army if our soil was actually threatened).
18. THIS BILL IS AS DUMB AS LIEBERMAN!
stude ham   (01.10.12)
19. #11 - Lieberman did serve in the army
Josh ,   Jerualem   (01.10.12)
Although I'm not a supporter of Yisrael Beiteinu, I am a supporter of the telling the truth. He did serve in the army, although he finished a simple soldier, no officers training or anything like most MKs.
20. YES he did #11 Moshe & YNet
naava ,   jerusalem   (01.10.12)
@ Moshe. Why can't you even look up one little detail before blabbering? Avigdor Lieberman DID INDEED complete his army service...he came on aliyah 1978, completed his IDF service and then went to Heb.Univ. for his BA. @ acts??
21. #11 Moishe...learn your facts!
Jayjay ,   Israel   (01.10.12)
Leiberman was a corporal in the army. You have no clue what you say!
22. Hebrew as a first language
Stephan   (01.10.12)
should be the only prerequisite for running for Knesset. Then, Liberman will be dissolved too.
23. Dilemma
A Jerusalemite ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (01.10.12)
Despite the obvious advantages of such a bill there are certain dilemmas that must be taken into consideration. One of my sons was born physically disabled. He was not eligible for the IDF despite trying a number of times to volunteer. Ditto Sherut Leumi. Luckily he has no wish to be elected to the Knesset, but if he did???
24. Should apply to voting and taxpayer-funded university also
Dr. L. Brnd ,   San Diego, USA   (01.10.12)
Why should those who refuse to serve be allowed to vote on the futures of those who do? Those who don't serve either IDF or alternative service should be banned from attending state-subsidized colleges [yeshivas included] until they reach age 21 - the age of those who have completed their 3 years of service. Allowing shirkers into college at age 18 rewards their non-service by giving them an advantage over those who do serve.giving. If Arabs and haredim don't like this, the doors of Israel are open and they are completely free to emigrate. Israel should even offer free 1-way airfares out of the country to those who haven't completed service by age 30 and agree to surrender their citizenship..
25. Don't Take Away Rights
Mychal ,   TN, USA   (01.10.12)
This runs the risk of throwing out Arab representation in Parliament, which is the one leg Israel has to stand on (i.e. the fact that they are the only true representational democratic government in the middle east). If a person is exempt from serving for whatever reason, then they're exempt. It doesn't matter if they're Arab, Haredi, immigrant, or physically disabled. Exempt is exempt. They should not be punished for exercising their legal exemption by being denied an opportunity to serve in government. To me, the right to serve in government is like having the right to vote: something that is not taken away lightly. If your beef is with "certain people" being exempt from national service, then you need to address the exemption and, if necessary, repeal it. You do NOT need to set up a second-class citizenry where you are not legally obligated to do certain things, but are prohibited from fully participating in the government if you don't. Can you imagine a system where you couldn't vote unless you meet certain criteria--like owning land? That used to exist in America and it was used to propagate racism and deny people their constitutional rights. That's what this will turn into, if people aren't careful.
26. # 22
Birdi ,   Israel   (01.10.12)
What about all the Arab members of Knesset? Hebrew is not their mother tongue/first language. Do you want them expelled aswell?
27. Bravo
Geoffrey ,   Baguio City/ Tel Avi   (01.10.12)
It's time to appreciate the author of this bill not to talk about the shoes of present MK"s whether they finished or not thier national service. Cheers!
28. Stupid Russian Seculars
Ariel Ben Yochanan ,   Kfar Tapuah, Efraim   (01.10.12)
B"H who vote for them
29. Those With Bunion Can't Be MKs. Better: The Circumcised!
Ariel Ben Yochanan ,   Kfar Tapuah, Efraim   (01.10.12)
30. Those Who Drink Vodka Can't Become MKs!
Ariel Ben Yochanan ,   Kfar Tapuah, Efraim   (01.10.12)
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