{"id":17647,"date":"2022-07-21T17:44:04","date_gmt":"2022-07-21T15:44:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/?p=17647"},"modified":"2022-07-21T17:44:04","modified_gmt":"2022-07-21T15:44:04","slug":"saudyjski-magazyn-al-majallah-publikuje-artykul-o-izraelskich-arabach-sluzacych-w-izraelskiej-armii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/saudyjski-magazyn-al-majallah-publikuje-artykul-o-izraelskich-arabach-sluzacych-w-izraelskiej-armii\/17647","title":{"rendered":"Saudyjski magazyn \u201cAl-Majallah\u201d publikuje artyku\u0142 o izraelskich Arabach s\u0142u\u017c\u0105cych w izraelskiej armii"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Artyku\u0142 w angielskim wydaniu saudyjskiego miesi\u0119cznika<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201eAl-Majallah\u201d<\/span><\/i> <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">po\u015bwi\u0119cony jest arabskim Izraelczykom, kt\u00f3rzy s\u0142u\u017c\u0105 w Izraelskich Si\u0142ach Obronnych (IDF).\u00a0D\u0142ugi artyku\u0142 Suzan Quitaz, kurdyjsko-szwedzkiej dziennikarki i badaczki specjalizuj\u0105cej si\u0119 w izraelskiej polityce i regionie Zatoki Perskiej, zauwa\u017ca, \u017ce \u200b\u200bliczba muzu\u0142ma\u0144skich i chrze\u015bcija\u0144skich Arab\u00f3w s\u0142u\u017c\u0105cych w IDF wzrasta dzi\u0119ki skutecznym metodom rekrutacji i dzia\u0142ania IDF.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rozpatruj\u0105c temat z bardzo pozytywnej perspektywy, artyku\u0142 zaczyna si\u0119 od odnotowania, \u017ce \u200b\u200bw przeciwie\u0144stwie do b\u0142\u0119dnego przekonania panuj\u0105cego w mediach, IDF nie jest w przewa\u017caj\u0105cej mierze \u017cydowska, ale jest \u201earmi\u0105 ludow\u0105\u201d, kt\u00f3ra sk\u0142ada si\u0119 z cz\u0142onk\u00f3w ze wszystkich sektor\u00f3w spo\u0142ecze\u0144stwa izraelskiego, w tym wielu arabskich \u017co\u0142nierzy, Druz\u00f3w, muzu\u0142man\u00f3w i chrze\u015bcijan, kt\u00f3rzy s\u0142u\u017c\u0105 na wszystkich poziomach wraz ze swoimi \u017cydowskimi towarzyszami.\u00a0Zauwa\u017ca, \u017ce \u200b\u200bspo\u0142eczno\u015b\u0107 Druz\u00f3w w rzeczywisto\u015bci ma najwy\u017cszy wska\u017anik zaci\u0105gu w ca\u0142ym spo\u0142ecze\u0144stwie izraelskim, w tym w sektorze \u017cydowskim, i \u017ce s\u0142u\u017cba w wojsku od dawna jest cz\u0119\u015bci\u0105 to\u017csamo\u015bci izraelskich Druz\u00f3w i \u017ar\u00f3d\u0142em ich dumy.\u00a0Cytowany w artykule m\u0142ody Druz stwierdza, \u017ce \u200b\u200bpodczas s\u0142u\u017cby nigdy nie by\u0142 traktowany inaczej ni\u017c jego \u017cydowscy koledzy-\u017co\u0142nierze.\u00a0&#8222;Wr\u0119cz przeciwnie, IDF jest jedn\u0105 z niewielu instytucji, gdzie wszyscy s\u0105 traktowani r\u00f3wno i sprawiedliwie\u201d \u2013 powiedzia\u0142.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">W artykule zauwa\u017cono, \u017ce tak\u017ce w innych spo\u0142eczno\u015bciach izraelsko-arabskich, a zw\u0142aszcza w\u015br\u00f3d Beduin\u00f3w w p\u00f3\u0142nocnym Izraelu, liczba rekrut\u00f3w ro\u015bnie w ostatnich latach.\u00a0Przedstawia komentarze wielu arabskich \u017co\u0142nierzy i by\u0142ych \u017co\u0142nierzy, kt\u00f3rzy twierdz\u0105, \u017ce ich poczucie przynale\u017cno\u015bci i ch\u0119\u0107 s\u0142u\u017cenia ojczy\u017anie sprawi\u0142y, \u017ce do\u0142\u0105czyli do IDF.\u00a0Wyra\u017caj\u0105 r\u00f3wnie\u017c opini\u0119, \u017ce s\u0142u\u017cba wojskowa przyczyni\u0142a si\u0119 do ich rozwoju osobistego i zawodowego oraz \u017ce jest jedn\u0105 z bram do r\u00f3wno\u015bci w izraelskim spo\u0142ecze\u0144stwie.\u00a0Artyku\u0142 przedstawia histori\u0119 m\u0142odej Arabki, kt\u00f3ra \u0142ami\u0105c normy swojego arabskiego spo\u0142ecze\u0144stwa, zaci\u0105gn\u0119\u0142a si\u0119 do IDF i jest dzi\u015b wysokiej rangi oficerem.\u00a0Pocz\u0105tkowo wst\u0105pi\u0142a do wojska bez wiedzy rodzic\u00f3w, ale dzi\u015b s\u0105 oni dumni z jej kariery wojskowej, podobnie jak ona.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Artyku\u0142 podkre\u015bla, \u017ce \u200b\u200bsukces IDF w rekrutowaniu coraz wi\u0119kszej liczby izraelskich Arab\u00f3w wynika w du\u017cej mierze z efektywnego mechanizmu rekrutacji, a konkretnie dzi\u0119ki wysi\u0142kom jednostki IDF odpowiedzialnej za rekrutacj\u0119 mniejszo\u015bci, kt\u00f3ra posiada pododdzia\u0142y specjalizuj\u0105ce si\u0119 w okre\u015blonych grupach mniejszo\u015bciowych.\u00a0Starszy oficer w tej jednostce wyja\u015bnia, \u017ce \u200b\u200bdociera ona do m\u0142odych Arab\u00f3w poprzez szko\u0142y i domy kultury, a dzi\u015b tak\u017ce poprzez media spo\u0142eczno\u015bciowe i osobi\u015bcie docieraj\u0105c do potencjalnych rekrut\u00f3w.\u00a0Dodaje, \u017ce jednostka zapewnia ka\u017cdemu rekrutowi wsparcie i zapewnia taki sam post\u0119p zawodowy, jak ka\u017cdemu innemu nowemu rekrutowi.\u00a0\u201eM\u0142odzi Arabowie izraelscy s\u0105 bardziej \u015bwiadomi tego, czym jest IDF i co mo\u017ce im zaoferowa\u0107, je\u015bli chodzi o mo\u017cliwo\u015bci kariery w samej armii lub dalsz\u0105 edukacj\u0119 [w] \u017cyciu po wojsku\u201d, m\u00f3wi.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Artyku\u0142 przyznaje, \u017ce s\u0142u\u017cba w IDF jest nadal bardzo kontrowersyjna w\u015br\u00f3d izraelskich Arab\u00f3w i \u017ce wielu zaciekle si\u0119 temu sprzeciwia.\u00a0Cytuje by\u0142\u0105 izraelsk\u0105 parlamentarzystk\u0119 arabsk\u0105, Hanin Zoabie, kt\u00f3ra twierdzi, \u017ce arabscy \u200b\u200b\u017co\u0142nierze w IDF nie ciesz\u0105 si\u0119 r\u00f3wno\u015bci\u0105 i wst\u0119puj\u0105 do armii tylko dlatego, \u017ce s\u0105 biedni i bezrobotni.\u00a0Twierdzi dalej, \u017ce Izrael rekrutuje ich z powod\u00f3w politycznych, aby sia\u0107 podzia\u0142 w\u015br\u00f3d izraelskich Arab\u00f3w. Odpowiadaj\u0105c na te twierdzenia, Hassan Kaabia, izraelski Arab i by\u0142y podpu\u0142kownik, kt\u00f3ry s\u0142u\u017cy\u0142 w IDF przez ponad dwadzie\u015bcia lat, stwierdza, \u017ce \u200b\u200b\u201eIDF jest jedyn\u0105 instytucj\u0105, w kt\u00f3rej nie ma dyskryminacji i panuje ca\u0142kowita r\u00f3wno\u015b\u0107 i integracja. Nieprawd\u0105 jest, \u017ce przyst\u0119puj\u0105 ze wzgl\u0119du na czynniki ekonomiczne. Wi\u0119kszo\u015b\u0107 izraelskich Arab\u00f3w, kt\u00f3rzy wst\u0119puj\u0105 do armii, robi\u0105 to z jednego powodu, a jest nim to, \u017ce chc\u0105 by\u0107 cz\u0119\u015bci\u0105 pa\u0144stwa\u201d. Kaabia doda\u0142 tak\u017ce zgry\u017aliwie, \u017ce jeden z bliskich krewnych Zoabie odby\u0142 s\u0142u\u017cb\u0119 w IDF.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Artyku\u0142 ko\u0144czy si\u0119 uwagami oficera jednostki odpowiedzialnej za rekrutacj\u0119 mniejszo\u015bci, kt\u00f3ry stwierdza: \u201eIzrael jest wielowyznaniowym i kulturowym spo\u0142ecze\u0144stwem z wieloma mniejszo\u015bciami. IDF mo\u017ce by\u0107 \u015bwietn\u0105 platform\u0105 do po\u0142\u0105czenia nas wszystkich z nasz\u0105 ojczyzn\u0105, Izraelem\u201d.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><b><i>[Dalszy tekst &#8211; fragmenty artyku\u0142u opublikowanego w<\/i><\/b><b>\u00a0<\/b><b><i>\u201eAl-Majallah\u201d<\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.memri.org\/reports\/saudi-magazine-al-majallah-publishes-exclusive-article-israeli-arabs-serving-israeli-army#_edn1\"><b><i>[1]<\/i><\/b><\/a><b><i> \u2013 nie jest spolszczony]<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17649\" src=\"https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SD10086-1.jpg\" width=\"576\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SD10086-1.jpg 576w, https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SD10086-1-300x188.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;IDF chief Aviv Kochavi visits Southern Command in undated photograph. (Credit: Israel Defense Forces)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;It is early morning in the Negev desert, a battalion of soldiers crawls across the desert sand with assault rifles cocked. It&#8217;s a routine military exercise, but these are no ordinary combatants &#8211; they are Arabs who have voluntarily chosen to fight and even sacrifice their lives in order to protect the State of Israel. These young men, and some women too, are proud to be part of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). One of these young men is sergeant Emad, who proudly says 'It&#8217;s an honor, to hold in one arm the assault rifle and on the other arm the holy Koran, to defend my homeland, Israel&#8217;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;There is a massive misconception in the mainstream media about the Israeli Army. Most people believe it&#8217;s predominately Jewish, and it was at its early inception&#8230; [But] the IDF has changed greatly in the decades since it was born. Today, the IDF represents the whole nation, 'the people&#8217;s army,&#8217; in which Israeli Jews, Druze, Muslims, Arabs, Bedouins and Christians all are brothers in arms.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>&#8222;Druze \u2013 IDF&#8217;s Highest Enlistment in Entire Israel<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;The Druze, an Arabic-speaking minority of about 150,000, roughly 2% of Israel&#8217;s population, mostly live in the northern regions of the Galilee, Carmel and the Golan Heights.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;In 1956, Druze leaders signed a 'covenant of blood&#8217; with the Israeli government, conscripting the community into the IDF making it as the only non-Jewish minority serving, though Druze women are exempt. Serving at the IDF has ever since been part of Druze identity and source of pride, love and loyalty to Israel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;In fact, above 80% percent of Druze men enlist in the IDF, the highest enlistment percentage of all communities and sectors of Israeli society, including Israeli Jews.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;Tawfiq from Qalansum, in northern Israel tells Al-Majalla, 'I was youngster when I enlisted, I was looking for a proper career and IDF offers so many development opportunities. Early in my service I was attached to a battalion in which most of the guys didn&#8217;t know much about the Druze, their culture and history. And here, I had the opportunity to teach them about my community. I see Israel as our homeland, it is a tiny state in the Middle East, and we are all obliged to defend it. Defending Israel was the main reason why I joined and stayed in the IDF for 25 years. Any Druze citizen you may come across will tell you that they are proudly patriotic and will share with you the love they feel towards this land. During my service I was never treated differently than my Jewish Israeli fellow-soldiers. On the contrary IDF is one of the few institutions where everyone is treated equally and fairly. Most IDF teams would have a mix of Jews, Muslims, Christians, and Bedouins. We were all equal, and career progression was based on one&#8217;s potential and merits and not if he is Jewish or not.&#8217;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17650\" src=\"https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SD100861.jpg\" width=\"576\" height=\"384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SD100861.jpg 576w, https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SD100861-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/><\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arab troops during basic training. (Credit: IDF Spokesperson&#8217;s Unit)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;Dr Anan Wahabi served in the IDF for 30 years. Today, among other things, he teaches at the International Institute for Counter Terrorism in Herzliya. He says, 'The IDF, for me on a personal level, was the institution that took me out from my village and helped me progress on the career ladder and become the person I am today. I am from the sixties generation, my generation grow up with two flags: the Druze and the Israeli one, they both are part of my identity and I am proud to wave both of them. Tell me, where in the Middle East is there a minority in the national army that is allowed to be proud of its ethnicity and wave its flag? The Israeli flag, is my flag and I fought in many wars defending what this flag stands for.&#8217;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>&#8222;The Arab Society in Israel<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;In 1957, the Israeli government designated the Druze as a distinct ethnic community separate from Palestinian Muslims and Christians who live inside Israel. The Arab citizens of Israel, also known as Israeli Arabs, among whom are those who call themselves Palestinian citizens of Israel, are descendants of the 160,000 Palestinians who remained in their towns and villages after the State of Israel declared independence in 1948. Arab citizens of Israel represent one-fifth of the total population and they form the overwhelming majority of Israel&#8217;s 20% percent non-Jewish demographic.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;Israel has a population of about 10 million \u2013 of those 74.3% identify as Jewish, followed by Muslim about 17.9%, Christian 1.9%, the Druze roughly 2% and some other religions under 4%, e.g., followers of the Bahai faith.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17651\" src=\"https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SD100862.jpg\" width=\"576\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SD100862.jpg 576w, https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SD100862-300x188.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;Like the Druze and other minorities living in Israel, they possess the same rights as Jewish Israelis under the law. Israeli Arabs are integrated in the Israeli workforce and represented in every sector of the society including the highest political echelons and in the Israeli Defense Forces.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;Despite the fact that Israeli law does not force Israel&#8217;s Arab Muslims, Christians or Bedouins to join the IDF, the past few years have seen a sharp and steady increase of young men and women from Israel&#8217;s Arab society joining the IDF in great numbers compared to a decade ago.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>&#8222;President Isaac Herzog: 'You Are Our True Pride. I Salute You&#8217;<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;Those Al-Majalla spoke with expressed that their sense of belonging and loyalty to state of Israel is what made them join the IDF. 'Why did I decide to enlist?&#8217; asks Sergeant Sami Heib, a 20-year-old Bedouin who is been with the IDF over two years, 'Because this is my homeland, I am part of this country and I want to contribute.&#8217; He continued, saying that 'many relatives of mine already serving in the IDF and my parents support my decision and are very proud of me.&#8217; He told Al Majalla that the IDF made him feel at home, 'the fact I am come from a minority group is probably the reason why the IDF is treating me more special, because they want me to feel that I belong here.&#8217;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;This year, on 5 May, 2022, President Isaac Herzog hosted the annual Independence Day Ceremony at his official residence. Among the VIP guests were Prime Minister Naftali Bennet, Minister of Defense Benny Gantz and IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi. The ceremony was to honor and hand out 'Commendations of Excellence Service&#8217; to 120 IDF soldiers and officers from a diverse set of units in the military. To the 120 soldiers and officers, President Herzog said 'You are our true pride. I salute you. I have read your stories. I was moved by your stories. Truly, by each and every one. You are here thanks to who you are, and thanks to who we are \u2014 thanks to you! Thank you very much! I extend the same gratitude to you, dear parents and families. We are proud of your children, and we are excited together with you.&#8217;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;A number of Israeli Arab officers were among those who received 'Commendations of Excellence Service.&#8217; One of them is Anas Safedi, 'I was brought up on Islamic values, and those values taught me that loyalty towards one&#8217;s homeland is sacred and an obligation. This why I carry my weapon to defend Israel.&#8217;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17652\" src=\"https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SD100863.jpg\" width=\"492\" height=\"656\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SD100863.jpg 492w, https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SD100863-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SD100863-315x420.jpg 315w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 492px) 100vw, 492px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><b>&#8222;Ella Waweya and the making of the impossible possible<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;Ella&#8217;s story is an extraordinary one \u2013 she was born in 1989 in the Israeli Arab town of Qalansawe, a few miles from the city of Netanya. She joined the IDF in 2013 and completed her training as an exemplary soldier and participated in many operations. In 2015 she received the President&#8217;s Outstanding Medal. In September 2021 Ella was promoted to the rank of Major in the Israel Defense Forces and became the first Arab Muslim woman to attain this rank.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;Al-Majalla met up with Ella in the city of Tel Aviv. The first thing one noticed, is how proud she is of her multi-identity as a woman, Arab, Israeli and Muslim, and proudly bears her rank in the army. It could not have been easy for a young Arab girl to go against the norms of familial and societal expectations of what women can and can&#8217;t do, and on the top of that joining an army that often portrayed extremely negatively in Arabic media and circles.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ella Waweya. (Wikimedia Commons)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;She tells us that 'For the first 18 months, I kept it secret that I joined the army, but during home leave on a weekend my mother came into my room without knocking and found my IDF uniform. She looked at the uniform, turned her gaze to me and began to cry, but quietly so that no would hear her.&#8217; Eventually, when it became known in her hometown that she works for the IDF, Ella was to become subject to negative reactions with some people choosing to distance themselves from her. But this brave confident woman took it all in stride.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;It took Ella&#8217;s father almost a year and half to forgive her for joining the IDF. But eventually he accepted her choice, and he was proudly telling people that his daughter is in the army. Sadly, her father died of coronavirus before getting the chance to see his daughter becoming the first Arab woman IDF Major. Her mother attended the ceremony when Ella got her major&#8217;s bar. 'I am proud of her, of course. My daughter, praise be to God, did nothing wrong \u2026 she built herself with her own hands,&#8217; her mother said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;Today, Ella is the Deputy Head of the IDF&#8217;s Arab Communications Department, her target audience is the hundreds of millions of Arabic speakers in the Middle East and around world. To Arabic social media surfers, she is known as 'Captain Ella,&#8217; the face and voice of the Israel Defense Forces.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;Since late 2019, Ella no longer holds back from telling the whole world that she works for the IDF, 'The Israeli flag gives me a sense of excitement, belonging and love,&#8217; she proudly says.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;There are thousands of people like Ella, officers and soldiers who are proud of working for the IDF. Three decades ago, it was almost impossible for an Israeli Arab to even consider enlisting. A decade later, many of those Israeli Arabs who joined the army were afraid to reveal their IDF service publicly. However, times have changed and many young Israeli Arabs now see themselves more broadly and are proud to say 'I am an Arab and an Israeli.&#8217;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;&#8217;What are people looking for? Equality between an Arab and a Jew, a Bedouin, a Druze and a Christian. The path to equality passes through the IDF, the Ministry of Defense, and the police. That&#8217;s how its starts,&#8217; said Ella.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;Recently, the Israeli Police released its recruitment report and it showed that more than 20% of the newly enlisted in the Israeli police force in the past year are Muslims and Bedouins.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>&#8222;The IDF and its Well-structured Recruitment Approach<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;Statistics provided by a 'Senior IDF Official from the Manpower Directorate&#8217; to Al-Majalla, show the number of Arab Israeli draftees has been on the rise for the past few [years]. This Senior Official (not authorized to reveal his name) says he heads a unit that is in charge of the inclusion of minorities and different populations in the IDF. He says 'our unit doesn&#8217;t just deal with recruitment but also is responsible for liaising between the military and the minority groups who serve in it. We ensure that each recruit is supported in terms of wellbeing and given the same professional progression like any other new enlistee.&#8217;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17653\" src=\"https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SD100864.jpg\" width=\"576\" height=\"378\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SD100864.jpg 576w, https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SD100864-300x197.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/><\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;Yussef Saluta, 20, an Israeli Arab soldier from the Desert Reconnaissance battalion takes part in a drill near Kissufim in southern Israel November 29, 2016. (Reuters)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;The unit is divided into four-sub sections\/divisions with each section dealing with enlistees from Israel&#8217;s Arab minority groups: Bedouins in the South; Bedouins in the North; and, Christians and Muslims living in villages and towns. He says 'our mission is to enlist as many Israeli Arabs as we can.&#8217;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;He says that over the past few years the IDF has seen a sharp rise in the number of Israeli Arabs volunteering to serve in the IDF. But he explains the numbers are higher in some sub-divisions then others. Within the Christian-sector the IDF is annually managing to recruit between 130-150 soldiers; Bedouins from the South roughly about 150 a year; Bedouins from the North between 300-350. In regards to 'other&#8217; Muslims, he says 'it&#8217;s quite hard to pin an exact figure, because like the Bedouins, they are Muslims too. But through our contact with schools and community centers we are recruiting about 40-100 soldiers from various Muslims towns and villages.&#8217;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;However, he does point out that the numbers are not a 100% exact as in some periods the number of new recruits is average and in other periods they sharply go up. One of these periods, had a monumental upsurge during the coronavirus outbreak.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;The coronavirus crisis did play a significant role to help the IDF to gain more recruits and the army was to be perceived differently by the Arab public in Israel. He explains why: 'During the pandemic, IDF soldiers were deployed to deliver food and medicine to elderly and sick people. They took part in the coronavirus awareness campaigns and later helped with setting up vaccine centers and so on. The IDF efforts were greatly appreciated by the Muslim citizens living in those villagers and towns. You can say the fear factor was broken, as people were able to see with their own eyes how tirelessly the IDF was working to look after all residents of Israel.&#8217;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;When asked about why the IDF recruitment for Bedouin in the North is much more successful in comparison with the recruitment drives of Israeli Christians or Muslims, he explains that 'the people who live in northern Israel are more accustomed or open to the IDF. You see, every family, they would either have a son, a brother, a husband, an uncle, a relative or a next-door neighbor who is already serving in the IDF.&#8217; He adds 'that Bedouin towns and villages in the north are modern and the number of people in higher education is greater than the South (Negev area). So we are getting volunteers who are educated and wish to pursue a career in the IDF or use the IDF as a pathway to later get a job with other law enforcement agencies, like the border police. The Bedouin youngsters in the south are not as open minded like the ones we see from the north.&#8217;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;About 75% of Bedouin IDF soldiers come from the north. The low rate of the recruits from the South, might be also connected to the time-to-time tension between authorities and the government, e.g., illegal building expansions which often result in a governmental order of demolition, crime, and the increased political strength of radical Islamists among other factors.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;The army believes that the significant increase in the number of enlisted Muslims (which is primarily among the Bedouin population) is related to a large recruitment campaign and personal invitations that were sent to thousands of young people to enlist in the army.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;The 'Senior IDF Official from the Manpower Directorate&#8217; also says 'that times have changed, young Israeli Arabs are more aware of what the IDF is and what it can offer them in terms of career opportunities within the army itself or further education [in] post-army life. People want to join the army to better their circumstances and at the same time they want to contribute and strengthen the security of their country, Israel.&#8217;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;The IDF and the Defense Ministry are planning to soon host a large recruitment drive, sending thousands of invitation letters to young members of the Bedouin community, also reaching them via Instagram and various social media platforms instead of standard recruitment notices in community centers. At the same time, Bedouin reserve soldiers will take part in additional activities that are part of the campaign.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17654\" src=\"https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SD100865.jpg\" width=\"490\" height=\"276\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SD100865.jpg 490w, https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SD100865-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 490px) 100vw, 490px\" \/><\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;Israeli Arab troops<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During basic training. (Credit: IDF Spokesperson&#8217;s Unit)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;Besides the increase in the number of Israeli Arabs who have been drafted into the IDF, the number of Israeli Arabs soldiers who left the service early shrank by 7%. In 2019, the drop-out rate was 30%, as opposed to 23% in 2021. The IDF&#8217;s goal for the coming year is to get the number down to 20%. In addition, in the past year, there was also a 10% decrease in the amount of time Muslim soldiers were away from their service without authorized leave. IDF officials believe that all the statistics indicate a high motivation to continue to serve.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>&#8222;&#8217;Serving the Occupation&#8217;<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;Enlisting is still controversial in some Arab communities in Israel and there are those who have voiced their anger and concerns. They claim among other things that the enlisting of Israeli Arabs is a 'politically motivated,&#8217; and that the IDF is aiming to divide the Arabs of Israel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;One of those critics of the enlistment drives is Hanin Zoabie, a [former] Arab Israeli Knesset Member. She claims that 'Israel is after people to serve in the army who are poor and have no work.&#8217; Zoabie continued, saying, 'Ninety percent of the Arabs who serve in the Israeli army don&#8217;t have equality with Israelis. Israel does not need them to protect its security, it&#8217;s a political issue &#8211; first to divide and rule.&#8217;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;Al-Majalla has asked Mr. Hassan Kaabia to comment on MK Zoabie&#8217;s assertion. Kaabia is an Israeli Arab and a former Lieutenant Colonel who served in the IDF for over two decades and currently works as the spokesman for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is what he had to say \u2013 'The IDF is the only institution where there is no discrimination and there is total equality and inclusion. It is not true that they are joining because of economic factors. The majority of Israeli Arabs who join the army are doing it because of one reason and that is they want to be part of the state. They want to integrate in the civil society and also get better career opportunities, as most companies prefer candidates who done their military service.&#8217; Kaabia adds that 'Zoabi has a political agenda that has resulted in some not wanting to be integrated in the Israeli society. But it&#8217;s fine for her to work in the Parliament and get a very high salary from the government of Israel, who also pays for her car, office and so on.&#8217;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;Mr Kaabia&#8217;s son, Captain Asaf, decided to follow in his father&#8217;s footsteps and joined the IDF a few years ago. MK Zoabi&#8217;s argument of only 'poor men with no jobs&#8217; is getting even thinner when you consider that Mohammed Zoabi, her very close relative, joined the IDF.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8222;Al-Majalla also asked the 'Senior IDF Official from the Manpower Directorate&#8217; to comment on MK Zoabi. His reply 'listen, I say we are not holding a stick and forcing people to join. We have enough soldiers in the IDF who are more than capable to protect Israel. Israel is for all Israelis \u2013 Jews, Muslims, Bedouins, Christians, Druze and so on. The IDF is here to serve all the people of Israel. We see the IDF as a home, a family where everyone should made to feel welcomed and included. Israel is a multi-faith and cultural society with many minorities. The IDF can be a great platform to connect all of to us to our homeland, Israel.'&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.memri.org\/reports\/saudi-magazine-al-majallah-publishes-exclusive-article-israeli-arabs-serving-israeli-army#_ednref1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[1]<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Eng.majalla.com, July 8, 2022.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Artyku\u0142 w angielskim wydaniu saudyjskiego miesi\u0119cznika\u00a0\u201eAl-Majallah\u201d po\u015bwi\u0119cony jest arabskim Izraelczykom, kt\u00f3rzy s\u0142u\u017c\u0105 w Izraelskich Si\u0142ach Obronnych (IDF).\u00a0D\u0142ugi artyku\u0142 Suzan Quitaz, kurdyjsko-szwedzkiej dziennikarki i badaczki specjalizuj\u0105cej si\u0119 w izraelskiej polityce i regionie Zatoki Perskiej, zauwa\u017ca, \u017ce \u200b\u200bliczba muzu\u0142ma\u0144skich i chrze\u015bcija\u0144skich Arab\u00f3w s\u0142u\u017c\u0105cych w IDF wzrasta dzi\u0119ki skutecznym metodom rekrutacji i dzia\u0142ania IDF. Rozpatruj\u0105c temat z bardzo [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17649,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[824,826,835,837],"tags":[908,912],"class_list":["post-17647","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-specjalne-komunikaty","category-arabia-saudyjska","category-archiwum","category-kraje","tag-izrael","tag-konflikt-arabsko-izraelski"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17647","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17647"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17647\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17655,"href":"https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17647\/revisions\/17655"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17649"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17647"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.memri.org\/polish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}