There will not be real equality in sharing the burden of national
service until there is conscription for haredim and Arabs alike, Deputy
Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said Saturday.
Speaking in Petah
Tikva at a weekly cultural event, Ayalon addressed several issues
currently at the forefront of Israeli political and public discourse.
He
said that army service must be identical for everyone in terms of
conscription age and length of service. Despite strife this week over
finding a replacement to the Tal Law, which saw the Keshev committee crumble, and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Vice Premier Shaul Mofaz struggling to agree, Ayalon asserted that "it is not too late.. to make the right decision."
Turning to the subject of Egypt under its newly elected president Mohamed Mursy, the minister said, "Mursy was elected by the Egyptians and represents national interests, not sectoral interests."
"There
is room for optimism, continued cooperation and normal relations
between Israel and Egypt, also through the embassies which continue
operating as usual," he continued. He added that since Mursy's
inauguration, the new leader has transmitted encouraging messages.
Addressing
the Iranian threat, Ayalon said that the new sanctions that came into
effect last week, "served a fatal blow to the Iranian economy and
undermined the security of the Ayatollan regime." However, he said that
Tehran had not yet halted its nuclear race, therefore increasing
pressure must continue to be placed on the Islamic Republic.