The Israel Parliament last night adopted by an overwhelming majority the bill which extends military service from 24 months to a 30-month period. The bill will be signed today by Premier David Ben Gurion and by Acting President Joseph Sprinzik and will enter into immediate effect.
A special bill concerning women in the national service will be introduced when the Parliament re-assembles after its recess which starts next week. Under the new bill men between 18 and 26 will serve 30 months and those between 27 and 29 will serve two years. The period of service for unmarried girls of 18 to 26 will remain at two years for the time being.
All parties, except the pro-Soviet Mapam and the Communist parties. voted in favor of the bill. The Mapam and the Communists voted against it. Immediately after the vote was taken, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee announced that Premier Ben Gurion, in his capacity as Defense Minister, will make arrangements that no university student, or students of higher vocational schools, should lose terms of study or their tuition on account of the new law.
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