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July 29, 2011       Share:    

Source: http://www.jewishideasdaily.com/content/module/2011/7/27/main-feature/1/minorities-in-the-idf

Minorities in the IDF

(Jewish Ideas Daily) Aryeh Tepper - Non-Jews from the Muslim, Druse, and Christian communities in Israel serve in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) alongside their Jewish peers. After completing their basic training, these soldiers swear fealty to the state of Israel on a copy of the Quran or the New Testament instead of the standard Hebrew Bible. Israeli Arabs are not drafted - though some still do serve voluntarily. Israeli Druse number approximately 115,000, and the overwhelming majority of men proudly serve in the IDF. The Sunni Muslim Circassians (of whom around 4,500 live in Israel) also loyally serve in the IDF. While Israeli Bedouins are not obligated to serve, some 5-10% volunteer for army service, often as trackers. In addition, each year a few dozen Arab Christians volunteer to serve in the IDF.

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