Jack Khoury, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service: IDF chief: Druze officers are this generation's Maccabees
Talkback
Title: Bravo to Chief of Staff- positive step Name: Noam City: Boca Ratonn State: FL (someday Israel)
With tensions somewhat high because of the incident in Peking and visit of a Druze Knesset member to "enemy state" Syria, this is an important move by the state to heal rifts with its Druze citizens. Druze are overwhelmingly loyal and proud citizens of Israel, as shown outperforming their Jewish counterparts in enlisting. They find a creative and healthy way to balance their particular identity with integration into the Jewish majority society. If other Arabic-speaking Israeli citizens followed their lead- perhaps just by performing civilian national service for 2 years instead of military- they`d receive many benefits that the Druze do and be much better of in Israeli society.