APARTHEID IN ISRAEL? - Christians and Muslims serve in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF)

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The following article was previously published by Bare Naked Islam

Disproving the lie that Israel is a racist, apartheid state, Israeli-Arab Christian and Muslim girls are joining the IDF in increasing numbers, wanting to serve their country in a meaningful way. IDF service is only mandatory for Israeli Jews.

While this story is about Arab Christian and Muslim women joining the IDF, even more Arab Christian and Muslim men are also serving.

 

United with Israel (h/t Grant B)  Young Muslim girls are joining the fight, on Israel’s side,” journalist David Lazarus wrote in the daily Israel Hayom. “These courageous young women have a unique and important story to tell, and together with a growing number of Christian Arab girls, they are breaking new ground joining ranks with the Israeli army.”

Continue reading and see additional images, as well as related article on how the IDF integrates 200 young disabled Israeli men and women into the army.



According to Lazarus’ report, these patriotic Arab-Israeli soldiers who are joining the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) include young women from both supportive and non-supportive families. Many had lived happily in Jewish neighborhoods and now wish to serve their country, just as their friends are doing.
One girl, Private ‘A’, a Muslim, is especially challenged. Her parents opposed her choice to serve in the IDF and are refusing to support her in any way, including financially.

“It’s really difficult, even with the help I get from the army,” she conceded. “It is rare for a Muslim girl to join the army, because our families will not accept it. Even so, I would still recommend others to enlist. It is a great, life-changing experience.”

Private ‘G’, a devout Muslim, enjoys family support for her decision. Indeed, her mother said that she, too, would have enlisted if it had been possible when she was younger. “It’s really difficult, even with the help I get from the army,” she conceded. “It is rare for a Muslim girl to join the army, because our families will not accept it. Even so, I would still recommend others to enlist. It is a great, life-changing experience.”

Private ‘G’, a devout Muslim, enjoys family support for her decision. Indeed, her mother said that she, too, would have enlisted if it had been possible when she was younger.

“I have never been ashamed of my [Muslim] faith, not even in the army,” said Private ‘S’. “I wanted to enlist because it is my duty to serve and protect my country. I want to serve in a way that makes a significant contribution.” She faces no difficulties practicing her religion while serving. “They allow me to go home during the Muslim Ramadan fast, once a week to be with my family,” she explained.

Corporal ‘M’, a Christian Arab serving in a sensitive operational unit, overcame social challenges in her home community. After enlisting, she said, “I was walking around the [Arab] neighborhood where I live in uniform. When people saw me they deleted me from their Facebook and erased my number from their telephone. It was very hard, but a few friends still supported me, and I have made a lot of new friends in the army.”

Political activist Anett Haskia, who hails from the northern Israeli city of Akko, identifies as an Arab Muslim Zionist. All three of her children, including her daughter, served in the IDF.

All 3 children – 2 boys and a girl – of Arab-Israeli political activist Annet Haskia chose to serve in the IDF

Monaliza Abdo, a Christian Arab-Israeli from Haifa, was featured in 2013 in an IDF blog about women in the Israeli military who had “shattered barriers.” Her job in the army was to help prevent terror attacks, smuggling operations and illegal entry into the country.

“I joined the IDF because I am an inseparable part of Israel,” she stated. “I keep the country safe – not only for the Jews, but for the Arabs too. I would sacrifice my life for the State of Israel and all of its citizens.”

Israel Today  When Private ‘A’, one of the Muslim girls now serving in the IDF decided to enlist, her parents refused to support her. She had to leave home and received support from the army as a lone soldier. 

“I need to support myself,” she says, “and it’s really difficult, even with the help I get from the army. It is rare for a Muslim girl to join the army, because our families will not accept it. Even so, I would still recommend others to enlist. It is a great, life-changing experience.”

Private ‘G’, a devout Muslim, grew up in a Jewish neighborhood. She decided to enlist after she saw all of her neighbors going to serve. “The army is an important part of everyone’s life in my neighborhood,” she explained. “I wanted to serve just like everyone else. I want to give something back to Israel, my country.” 

She added that her mother has been very supportive and sends her regular letters for moral support. “Mom said that she would have enlisted also if it had been possible when she was my age.” According to Private ‘G’, recent tensions in Israel caused by young Muslims running through the streets attacking Israeli soldiers with knives does not influence her commitment to serve in the army.  “I am so angry, just like the other soldiers, with these attacks. I am angry that anyone would try to harm these soldiers who are supporting me,” she said. 

Private ‘S’ also grew up in a Jewish neighborhood. “My whole life I went to school with Jewish girls, so I wanted to finish high school, and enlist in the army, just like my friends,” she noted.  “I have never been ashamed of my [Muslim] faith, not even in the army. I wanted to enlist because it is my duty to serve and protect my country,” she added. “I want to serve in a way that makes a significant contribution.”

According to Private ‘S’, the army allows her to practice her religious traditions during her army service. “They allow my to go home during the Muslim Ramadan fast, once a week to be with my family,” she explained. “Some may think it is strange, but at home we actually celebrate some of the Jewish holidays like Purim.”

Corporal ‘M’ is a Christian Arab serving in a sensitive operational unit. “One day I saw a group of girl soldiers walking by carrying machine guns. I asked them about their army service, and it sounded really interesting. I didn’t even know where one would go to sign up, so they told me what I needed to do to enlist,” she recounted.

“After I enlisted,” continued the corporal, “I was walking around the [Arab] neighborhood where I live in uniform. When people saw me they deleted me from their Facebook and erased my number from their telephone. It was very hard, but a few friends still supported me, and I have made a lot of new friends in the army,” she shared.

All the young Muslim and Christian soldiers say that other girls are asking them about enlisting too. “I tell them that I feel like I am doing something important for my country,” said Corporal ‘M’. “And when I explain to the Jewish soldiers why I decided to enlist, they all show real respect for the decision that I made.”

Faces of the IDF

Source
http://www.barenakedislam.com/2016/03/17/apartheid-israel-you-say-then-why-are-arab-christians-and-muslims-serving-in-the-israeli-defense-forces/

Originally appeared here:
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israeli-arab-muslim-and-christian-girls-are-joining-the-idf/



RELATED
 
March 17, 2016
 

IDF has special program

 for young disabled Israelis

 

The groundbreaking initiative of the IDF incorporates young people with disabilities into the army, emphasizes their abilities and skills and helps them in the long-term to integrate into society and the workforce.

 

Several years ago, Special in Uniform joined forces with Israel’s Lend a Hand to the Special Child Foundation, a grassroots organization established in 2005 by parents of children with disabilities that operates in partnership with the Jewish National Fund (JNF).

 

They work together to spread awareness of the program so that the thousands of youth eligible for the program can learn of its existence.

 

“The Special in Uniform program starts in the army, but doesn’t end there. We clearly see how it afterwards effects better integration into society, community and the workforce," explained Executive Director of Lend a Hand Rabbi Mendy Belinitzki.

 

Currently Special in Uniform incorporates over 200 special needs youth in the army, in an initiative contributing to the IDF and Israeli society by fostering acceptance and diversity.

VIDEO OF DISABLED GIRL WHO JOINED THE ARMY:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJke4rcS4OE&feature=player_embedded

 
Read entire article here
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/209578#.VuxdGpvmqM8


IDF ON TWITTER
 https://twitter.com/IDFSpokesperson?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

IDF BLOG
https://www.idfblog.com/blog/2016/03/10/creating-terrorist/

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PRIEST FROM NAZARETH TO THE UN: ISRAEL ONLY MIDEAST COUNTRY NOT PERSECUTING CHRISTIANS 
- Pleads for a stop to the campaign against Israel and to those who want to destroy it

Father Gabriel Naddaf speaking at the United Nations:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbJ2su1rwAs

TRANSCRIPT:

Mr. President, I am speaking to you on behalf of UN Watch.

 

Standing before you is Father Gabriel Naddaf, a Christian citizen from Nazareth, the city in which Christ was raised and where he proselytized.

 

Dear Sirs, while I stand before you today, the earth of the Middle East is soaked with the blood of Christians being killed daily.

 

Do you know that at the start of the 20^th century, Christians comprised 20% of the population of the Middle East?

 

Today they comprise only 4%.

 

Do you know that over the past years some 100,000 Christians have been killed annually? And why? Not for a crime they’ve committed, but only for believing in Christ.

 

In Iraq alone, more than 77% of the Christians have fled during the year 2000, in addition to thousands killed and expelled.

 

Some 2 million Christians lived in Syria, but today, they are less than 250,000.

 

Christians in these countries are treated as second-class citizens; facing racial, religious, economic and social discrimination.

 

Why is this happening? Only due to their religion, a religion that advocates love and peace between mankind.

 

Christians in the Middle East are marginalized; their rights denied, their property stolen, their honor violated, their men killed, and their children displaced.

 

Where will they go? Who will defend them? And who will guard their property?

 

If we look at the Middle East, Mr. President, we realize there’s only one safe place where Christians are not persecuted.

 

One place where they are protected, enjoying freedom of worship and expression, living in peace and not subjected to killing and genocide.

 

It is Israel, the country I live in. The Jewish state is the only safe place where the Christians of the Holy Land live in safety.

 

Christians and Jews live in Israel not only because Christ was originally Jewish, born in Jewish Bethlehem, but because they share a common destiny, and a true hope to coexist in peace.

 

Does the world acknowledge Israel for protecting its Christians? Many in the international community have chosen to criticize Israel.

 

This, in my mind, is a double crime: because by doing so, the international community helps those striving to annihilate the Jews, the Christians, the Druze and the Yazidis for political ends.

 

By doing so, the international community unfortunately contributes to exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East.

 

It causes Christians to leave the land of Christ searching for a safe haven across the world.

 

It is time for the world to awaken and realize the truth of those striving to destroy the Jewish state.

 

They are hastening the death sentence of Christians in the Middle East and the Holy Land, the land which witnessed the birth and life of our Lord Jesus Christ. If they leave, who will remain in it?

 

I, Father Gabrial Naddaf of Nazareth, stand before you and plead: Oh world leaders and supporters of peace, stop those who want to destroy the only free Jewish state in the region.

 

It is the only refuge welcoming and protecting all of its citizens. It is the only place that does not attempt to push out Christians, forcing them to leave their land in search of security.

 

I implore you from the bottom of my heart to hear the cry of the Christians of the Middle East before it is too late, and you may read about them only in the history books.

 

Thank you, Mr. President.

 

Transcript by UN Watch

http://blog.unwatch.org/index.php/2014/10/29/christian-priest-to-un-israel-only-mideast-country-not-persecuting-christians/

 

 Link to the above article about Father Nadaf
http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot.ca/2014/10/priest-from-nazareth-to-un-israel-only.html

 

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ISRAELI CHRISTIANS REGISTER AS "ARAMAEANS" AND REJECT ARAB NATIONALITY - Increased Israeli Christian support for Israel due to Palestinian Muslims persecution of Christians
Read more
http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot.ca/2014/09/israeli-christians-register-as-arameans.html

CHRISTIAN ARABS DEMONSTRATE IN FAVOR OF ISRAEL - "ISRAEL IS OUR SAFE HAVEN"

Read more
http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot.ca/2014/03/christian-arabs-demonstrate-in-favor-of.html

Christian Arabs joining the Israel Defense Forces
Read more
http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/20110/christian-arab-idf-volunteers-mark-historic-moment/#4Rchl26Qpx4cgZvD.97

 
ARAB DIPLOMAT: PALESTINIAN CAUSE IS ABOUT DESTROYING ISRAEL
 - NOT A HUMANITARIAN CONCERN
Read more
http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot.ca/2014/10/arab-diplomat-palestinian-cause-is.html

 
THE PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS BY MUSLIM PALESTINIANS - 
And their steady disappearance from ancient holy land - Official Muslim discrimination, harassment and violence has driven them away
Read more
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 "ISRAEL IS THE ONLY SAFE PLACE FOR CHRISTIANS IN THE MIDDLE EAST" says Father Gabriel Nadaf, leader of Christian Aramaeans in Israel, who recently rejected their "ARAB" designation, in favor of ARAMAEAN
Father Nadaf was speaking to the Human Rights Council
Read more
http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot.ca/2014/09/israel-is-only-safe-place-for.html

GAZA ARCHBISHOP TELLS MEDIA THAT HAMAS USED HIS CHURCH TO FIRE ROCKETS AT ISRAEL - That is a war crime.
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THE ISRAEL - GAZA CONFLICT IN POSTERS AND CARTOONS
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