'I'll pen own bill if service at 18 isn't required'

At Yisrael Beytenu meeting, Liberman warns if Ya'alon, Plesner don't require IDF service for all 18-year-olds, he'll present bill.

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
Bibi netanyahu (photo credit: JPost Staff)
Bibi netanyahu
(photo credit: JPost Staff)
Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman on Monday categorically stated that Yisrael Beytenu will not leave the coalition over the Tal Law issue but warned he would present his own bill if he was not satisfied with the bill formulated by Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya’alon and Kadima MK Yohanan Plesner.
Speaking at a Yisrael Beytenu faction meeting, the party leader said that if the team working on how to equalize the burden of IDF service does not decide to require service for all 18 year olds, his party will present a bill next Wednesday that does.
Liberman also expressed outrage that the Ariel University Center is not being made into a university, and that affirmative action is being given to Arab municipalities and Arab college students.
However, he said that despite his frustration he will not remove Yisrael Beytenu from the coalition.
"I want to make clear that I do not intend to leave the coalition. There are people in the Knesset and the press who hope we will leave and make some portfolios available. We just want to make sure our coalition agreement is implemented," Liberman asserted.
Meanwhile, Ya'alon and Plesner met Monday in their continued efforts to draft new legislation to replace the Tal Law.
The two veterans of the IDF’s General Staff Reconnaissance Unit intend to work long hours over the next two days to complete the bill by Wednesday, get it approved in Sunday’s cabinet meeting and ensure its passage into law by the time the Knesset’s summer recess begins July 25. A statement from Ya'alon's office said the two made progress and will hold further meetings.
Lahav Harkov and Jpost.com staff contributed to this report