Jerusalem, Aug 25 (DPA) Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman caused a political storm in Israel Monday by proposing that only those who had completed service in the Israeli military, or done an equivalent form of national service, should be accepted to his ministry's diplomatic training course.

The proposal would mean that Arab-Israelis and ultra-Orthodox Jews, who are exempt from compulsory service in the military, and those Israelis who had received exemptions, could no longer apply to become diplomats.

Lieberman said that if the ministry's legal advisors nixed his suggestion, he would make efforts to see it though via parliamentary legislation.

Five Arab-Israelis currently serve as diplomats.

It is unclear how Lieberman's proposal would affect a ministry plan, announced some months ago, to open a diplomatic training course geared towards minorities in Israel.

In Israel's recent election campaign Lieberman, leader of the ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beteinu (Israel Our Home) party, constantly spoke out against those he said refused to share the obligations of citizenship imposed on all Israelis and refused to express loyalty to the state.

Although he never clarified who he meant, observers said he was specifically targeting Arab-Israelis.

Welfare Minister Isaac Herzog, of the left-leaning Labour party, demanded that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reprimand Lieberman for his remarks Monday.