Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., December 17, 2007 Tevet 8, 5768 | | Israel Time: 19:02 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File Hanukkah

del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 19:49 14/12/2007 IDF chief: Druze officers are this generation's Maccabees By Jack Khoury, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service Tags: Gabi Ashkenazi, Druze  Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi praised Druze officers Friday, comparing them to the ancient band of Jewish warriors who overthrew Greek rule in the Holy Land. "The Druze officers are our generation's Maccabees," Ashkenazi said during a visit Friday to the Galilee village of Kfar Julis. The chief of staff appeared in Kfar Julis to mark the Islamic Feast of the Sacrific, or Eid al-Adha. In light of the recent violent clashes between police and residents of the Druze town of Peki'in, Ashkenazi sought to emphasize and strengthen ties with the Druze community. Advertisement The IDF chief added that the rate of enlistment of Druze soldiers into the IDF - among the highest in the country - continues to climb. Ashkenazi said that more than half of Druze enlistees serve in combat units, and ranking officers continue to take command of soldiers operating in vital areas. Ashkenazi also paid a visit to Bedouin community leaders in Kfar Julis, during which he praised Bedouin soldiers, vowing that any Bedouin who enlists will receive every opportunity that is afforded to other soldiers. Ashkenazi cited the importance of army service for young Bedouins as an entrance ticket into Israeli society. On Sunday, both chief rabbis, Yona Metzger and Shlomo Amar, will meet with Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Muafek Tarif in Kfar Julis. Metzger and Amar will proceed onto Peki'in following the meeting. Related articles: Moshe Arens / Playing with fire Peki'in officials demand commission of inquiry into clashes MKs slam police 'unrestrained use of violence' in Druze town Israel Harel / Conditional loyalty Bookmark to del.icio.us No rights The gov't won't grant rights to Palestinians west of fence, according to a report. Right to a child The Welfare Min. is launching a policy that would allow single-sex families to adopt.   1.   Bedouin wanted? 19:03  |  David 14/12/07   2.   David #1, Have you been to Israel and seen the Bedouin? 20:19  |  The Equalizer 14/12/07   3.   druse mcabees and olmert 20:41  |  marcel 14/12/07   4.   yeah whatever david 21:34  |  Sol 14/12/07   5.   #1 David NY 21:51  |  * BEN JABO 14/12/07   6.   what a laod 22:08  |  saul 14/12/07   7.   #1-2 David - You said it yourself 22:54  |  * BEN JABO 14/12/07   8.   No. 2 Sol 23:36  |  Steve 14/12/07   9.   To David 23:58  |  dovale 14/12/07   10.   Bravo to Chief of Staff- positive step 00:22  |  Noam 15/12/07   11.   David in NY 01:06  |  rich 15/12/07   12.   Steve in Minneapolis 01:09  |  rich 15/12/07   13.   To Dovale.. any mirrors? 01:33  |  Justin 15/12/07   14.   No. 9 02:46  |  Steve 15/12/07   15.   #8 Steve MN - To avoid confusion 04:01  |  * BEN JABO 15/12/07   16.   #13 Justin - WA 04:04  |  * BEN JABO 15/12/07   17.   druze 06:24  |  Observer 15/12/07   18.   Why don`t the Palestinian Israelis serve? 06:44  |  Jewboy 15/12/07   19.   # 4 to "sol" in haifa; you need to check again... 06:49  |  eric 15/12/07   20.   # 15 to ben jabo 06:52  |  eric 15/12/07   21.   # 2 to the equalizer in FLORIDA 07:09  |  eric 15/12/07   22.   Where are the JEWISH Maccabees? 09:37  |  Moshe 15/12/07   23.   bedouins vs settlers 13:09  |  elj 15/12/07   24.   # 12 Rich in LONDON? 14:06  |  Petra 15/12/07   25.   To all 20:57  |  Ghandi 15/12/07   26.   #20-2 Eric - speaking of "Ignorance" 03:33  |  * BEN JABO 17/12/07   27.   #2001 2ND TRY Eric NM 04:44  |  * BEN JABO 17/12/07   28.   #25 Ghandi 05:02  |  *BEN JABO 17/12/07   29.   #27 Eric NM - X-Mas is almost here 18:58  |  * BEN JABO 17/12/07

Today Online Ron Breiman: Greater Israel - Not Peace Now but Zionism Now Responses: 106 Moshe Arens: The IDF must move into Gaza to curb Qassams Responses: 52 'Hava Nagila' enters race for Christmas No. 1 in Britain Responses: 67 FM Livni: Israel is committed to creating Palestinian state Responses: 80 Israelis appear twice in 50 top scientific breakthroughs Responses: 88 Rosner's Domain Without the Reform movement in Israel, there's no Reform movement Guest: Americans say there's no need nor point in creating Palestinian state So, Should American Jews have a voice in shaping Israel's policies? Fewer Israelis say peace personally important (What to Read) More Headlines 18:53 PA will likely raise $3.7b at int'l donors summit, Israeli sources say 18:59 Barak: I'll work toward allocating NIS 320m to protect rocket-weary south 15:32 'Hava Nagila' enters race for Christmas No. 1 in Britain 17:19 Galilee militant gets life term for kidnap-murder of IDF soldier 16:59 Israel releases Palestinian mother imprisoned for aiding Hamas 18:07 Conductor Barenboim slams Israel after musician barred from entering Gaza 17:58 Poll: Support for Hamas stable despite worsening conditions in Gaza 13:24 Russia sends first shipment of nuclear fuel to Iran power plant 16:35 DNA from murder probe yields conviction in unrelated rape case 13:29 Hamas: Advanced defense plan ready for when IDF enters Gaza Previous Editions Select Day 16 dec 14 dec 13 dec 12 dec 11 dec 10 dec 09 dec 07 dec 06 dec 05 dec 04 dec 03 dec

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