The Tal Law cannot be extended by even one hour, and any attempt to ignore the issue is a mistake, Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman said at a press conference in the Knesset on Monday.

According to Liberman, there are enough positions in the IDF or in national service, so that everyone can contribute.

Anyone who does not serve their country should not be eligible for any stipends or scholarships from the state, he added.

“In my opinion, there is a greater understanding among the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) and Arab publics [of the need to serve] than among their leaders, who are trying to take advantage of the topic for other reasons,” Liberman said.

The foreign minister also explained that some of the top Torah scholars can receive postponements or exemptions from army service, like professional athletes or artists, but no more than 1000 should receive this privilege.

Liberman reiterated that Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee chairman David Rotem (Israel Beiteinu) is working on drafting alternative legislation to the Tal Law. (© 1995-2011, The Jerusalem Post 02/27/12)