Kristna araber i israeliska armén

En intressant artikel om kristna araber i Israel som frivilligt väljer att göra sin värnplikt i den israeliska armén.

Christians in Israel Makor Rishon, January 9, 2009
In line with its recent reportage on Christian affairs in Israel, Makor Rishon (January 9) printed an article on "the minority within a minority." Avinadav Vitkun reported on a group of Arab soldiers who volunteer in the IDF and are currently serving on active duty in Gaza: "In the shadow of the war and the walls of hatred, only a few people take note of the most isolated soldiers in Israel. They are now fighting in Gaza or on duty elsewhere, as part of the Israeli security machine. They do so voluntarily. The Israeli education system does not encourage them to take this step - not to speak of the society in which they live. But still, a group of young Arabs does not give up, but chooses to serve in the army of the Jewish State at a time when their Arab friends are completing their academic studies, working, and raising families. They do what is not obvious or taken for granted amongst their society and is despised or totally misunderstood by their Jewish neighbors . . . More and more young Christian Arabs are serving in the various branches of the IDF, despite the recent escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict . . . They belong to various churches, but they are united in their Zionist recognition and their willing to serve despite the hostile atmosphere on the Arab street. 'Today, there isn't a Christian family who doesn't have a son serving in the army or security forces,' says Elias Rushrush from Nazareth, whose oldest son is serving in the Navy and whose second son is about to enter the paratroopers. 'Our sons come to Nazareth in their [army] uniform and no one dares say a word. Even during the recent disturbances and rock-throwing, they didn't attack us within the city.'" .... artikeln fortsätter