Member of Knesset Michael Ben-Ari (National Union) asked Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, Friday morning, to freeze the discussions of the committee for absorbing more Arabs into government service, headed by Member of Knesset Ahmad Tibi (Ra'am Ta'al United Arab List). As an alternative, he suggested Tibi be replaced "by a citizen who recognizes the fact that the Arab public also has obligations and not just rights."
Against the backdrop of the intention of the Committee for Equal Burden of Service not to fine Arabs for not volunteering for civilian service, Doctor Ben-Ari wrote, in a letter, "One who seeksequal rightsmust understand andinternalizethat there areequal obligations.It cannotbethat someone likeMK Ahmad Tibi, who screams from every possible platformthat there isdiscriminationandhowArabs do notconstitutepart of the state, would not bewillingto participate intheobligations andvigorouslyobjects, like the rest of his comrades, to national servicefor the Arab public." Ben-Ari continued, "Beyond the fact that this behavior by Tibi is two-face and immoral, it's also illegal. Tibihas become one who encouragesan entire sectorto bea parasite."