Member of Knesset Michael Ben-Ari criticized the government's committee on the equal burden in national service, Thursday evening, following the announcement of its intention not to fine Arabs for not doing some form of national service. Referring to committee chairman Yochanan Plesner, Dr. Ben-Ari said, "The Plesnercommitteehas become a farce.Insteadof decidingonequalrecruiting for the Arabs,thecommitteegoesin favor ofracialdiscriminationin favor of the Arabsanddriven by hatred of hareidim."
The committee is charged with developing alternatives to the Tal Law, which provided draft deferments to yeshiva students. The law is scheduled to expire on Sunday. Ben-Ari said, "We demand that the Arab sector bear [part of the] burden."