Education Minister Gideon Sa´ar says ´some radical Arab MKs are only after segregation´; Israel must devise special National Service path for Arab sector

Education Minister Gideon Sa´ar (Likud) commented Saturday on the controversy surrounding the universal draft law, which aims to distribute the burden equally among all sectors in Israeli society, saying that "The situation creates an opportunity we must use."

As for the uproar expressed by some Arab MKs vis-à-vis the possibility that Arab youth may be made to serve in the IDF, Sa´ar said: "Some radical Arab Knesset members are not interested in integration and are only after radicalism and segregation."

The majority of the Arab public in Israel is "Much more moderate than its parliamentarians," he added. "They do wish to integrate. We have to devise a special National Service path for the Arab public. It will do them good and it will do the State good.

Meanwhile, the attempts to devise an alternative to Tal Law have caused a political crisis, which is threatening the Coalition; with some Likud members blaming Kadima Chairman Shaul Mofaz of trying to push Yisrael Beiteinu out of the government. (Copyright 2012 © Yedioth Internet 06/30/12)