Speaking with Israel Radio Friday, Interior Minister Eli Yishai reasserted his statements made Thursday at Bar Ilan University, according to which the willingness of non-Jewish soldiers in the IDF to "fight everywhere" is questionable.

"I am not speaking about those soldiers who were killed during their service," Yishai said. However, he said the government must decide whether it wants Israel to retain its Jewish identity, or whether it is prepared to lose its Jewish majority by allowing a million non-Jews to gain citizenship in it through their admittance into military service.

Israel Radio interviewed a new immigrant who had served in the IDF in an elite unit. Referring to Yishai's claims, he said new immigrants, including non-Jews, enlist into service to protect their country.

"Even those who are not considered Jewish according to Hallacha," he said, "prove through their daily actions their loyalty to the state and the Jewish people."

Housing Minister Nathan Sharansky on Friday criticized Interior Minister Eli Yishai's suggestions for amendment's in the Law of Return, Israel Radio reported. He claimed such changes would rupture Israel's ties with Jews worldwide.

He said that although he was aware of the increasing numbers of non-Jewish new immigrants, he thinks only setting up an immigration authority is the right way to deal with this 'problem'.

Yishai previously claimed that by the year 2010, Israel will have lost its Jewish majority. He also said that hundreds of non-Jews receive Israeli citizenship each year through service in the IDF.

Opposition head Yossi Sarid called on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to remove Yishai from the Ministry of the Interior, so that "new immigrants can finally live freely" in Israel.

Shinui Chairman Yosef Lapid said Yishai's statements were a new high in the ultra-Orthodox parties' cynicism and audacity. While thousands of soldiers with only one Jewish parent are serving in the military, he said, Yishai is taking care that none of his followers serve the country at all.