Israel's Arab soldiers who fight for the Jewish state

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#1 [Permalink] Posted on 8th November 2016 17:31

Israel's Arab soldiers who fight for the Jewish state
By Jane Corbin
BBC News, Jerusalem

It is dawn in the Negev desert and Mahmud Kashua is saying his first prayers of the day - a gun by his side. Mahmud is one of a growing number of Israeli Arabs who have volunteered to serve in the army of the Jewish state.

"I (Mahmud Kashua) consider myself an Arab and a Muslim but I also consider myself part of this country," Mahmud tells me during a break in live fire practice on the range. "It's our state and we have to give back, to help as much as we can to the state which protects us."

Over six months a BBC Arabic documentary team gained extraordinary access to the Gadsar - an all-Arab unit of 500 within the Israeli Defence Force. Ten times as many Israeli Arabs - Muslims and Christians - are joining the IDF compared to three years ago.

"Our mission is to enlist as many as we can," says Col Wajdi Sarhan, head of the IDF Minorities Unit. "We have a few hundred and we want to double that in the next year."

Twenty per cent of Israel's population is Arab but only about 1% of them serve in the army. Enlisting is controversial in many of their communities.

Hanin Zoabi is an Israeli Arab MP who identifies herself as Palestinian and is a fierce critic of the state.
"This small marginalised group that serves in the Israeli army which serves Israel against its people knows they are crossing a patriotic red line," she says.

"Ninety per cent of the Arabs who serve in the Israeli army don't have equality with Israelis. Israel does not need them to protect its security, it's a political issue - first to divide and rule."

'Serving the occupation'

We followed the Gadsar as it became the first Israeli Arab unit ever to serve on the occupied West Bank, home to 1.7 million fellow Arabs - Palestinians.

It is a tense time - in the past year, 37 Israelis have been killed in a wave of knife, gun and car-ramming attacks by Palestinians or Israeli Arabs.

More than 200 Palestinians - mostly attackers, Israel says - have also been killed in that period.
At a checkpoint between two Israeli settlements, Mohammed Ayashi, a Muslim soldier, is stopping some Palestinian cars.

"Sometimes its hard because I am an Arab like them and they look down on me but in the end I am doing my job and I have to do this," Mohammed says. "Some people from the way they answer us you can tell they can't stand us - they look down on us with contempt."

One driver says he understands Mohammed is just doing his duty and is free to do as he wants but another is clearly angry.

"We wish an Arab soldier wouldn't do this - we are all Arabs," says the driver. "We consider him a Palestinian and he is serving the army of occupation. I don't know what to make of it."

'Aid to integration'

On the Gadsar base Mahmud and the other new recruits take the oath of allegiance to Israel. His parents and fiancee are there to see him swear on the Koran as he is given his own gun.

"I'm proud of him - this is his choice and we back him. We are happy and he is happy," says his father, Jamil Kashua.

Back at home in an Arab town in northern Israel there is a barbeque in Mahmud's honour. But he will only wear his uniform when he is in the family compound.

"A few guys saw me wearing the uniform and told me that I'm a traitor. I told them that's my own business but I don't care what others say," Mahmud says.

"If I'm a traitor then why is he living in this state?"

In contrast to many of his friends Mahmud gets a good salary as a soldier. Unlike Jewish recruits he can apply for a grant of land to set up his own home.

"Guys who go to the army have a good position and live comfortably," says Jamil. "The army supports them financially and their lives move forward."

For the Israeli government increasing the number of Arabs in the army is key to integration of the two communities.

"We are doing our utmost to integrate minorities into the army to maintain the status quo demographically," says Col Sarhan. "Serving in the army is a great platform to connect the Muslim community to the state."

Security for the future

Some Israeli Arab politicians accuse the government of bribery. "Israel is after people to serve in the army who are poor and have no work," says Hanin Zoabi.

"Fifty-two to 54% of our Palestinian people in Israel are under the poverty line - and the government's policy of creating poverty obliges people to look for the only solution they can."

The peace process is not going anywhere it seems - the two state solution is still a distant prospect - so many young Arabs see integration into the Israeli military as their future.

"Ten people from my town are serving in the army now. I have friends who want to enlist," says Mahmud. "I encourage everyone to join - to improve his or her life and look to their future."

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#2 [Permalink] Posted on 8th November 2016 19:10

May they be humiliated!

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#3 [Permalink] Posted on 10th November 2016 17:54

Are these Arab Muslims or just "Arabs" in general?

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#4 [Permalink] Posted on 10th November 2016 21:24

Muadh_Khan wrote:

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Quote:

"I consider myself an Arab and a Muslim but I also consider myself part of this country," Mahmud tells me during a break in live fire practice on the range.[/quote]

Quote:

Ten times as many Israeli Arabs - Muslims and Christians - are joining the IDF compared to three years ago. [/quote]
[quote]At a checkpoint between two Israeli settlements, Mohammed Ayashi, a Muslim soldier, is stopping some Palestinian cars.

"Sometimes its hard because I am an Arab like them and they look down on me but in the end I am doing my job and I have to do this,"

[quote]On the Gadsar base Mahmud and the other new recruits take the oath of allegiance to Israel. His parents and fiancee are there to see him swear on the Koran as he is given his own gun.

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#5 [Permalink] Posted on 11th November 2016 10:02

is fighting for Israel any worse than fighting for UK or USA

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#6 [Permalink] Posted on 11th November 2016 13:17

I would fight for my country against terrorists anytime.

Israel is fighting to take away Al Quds! big difference.

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#7 [Permalink] Posted on 11th November 2016 14:21

abu mohammed wrote:

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Israelis aint fighting to take away al quds. They are just fighting ' terrorists'

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#8 [Permalink] Posted on 11th November 2016 14:33

I don't consider Palestinians as terrorists!

Palestinians are fighting to protect and defend their land that is being illegally occupied.

Acts carried out by other terrorist organizations is another thing.

I'm not a supporter of such terrorists and their organizations.

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#9 [Permalink] Posted on 11th November 2016 17:29

Who cares what you think? Lol. If the main stream media and politicians called someone or something terrorists then thats that. Apart from ISIS i wouldnt call hardly anyone uk and usa called a 'terrorist' a terrorist. I dnt need people to dictate to me who n what terrorist is. I can figure for myself, especially by the same scum who in the 80s were calling mandela a n*gger terrorists and bin laden a hero. 20yrs on they are saying the opposite

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#10 [Permalink] Posted on 12th November 2016 13:00

mkdon101 wrote:

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I care what he thinks because the United Nations Charter under International Law accepts legitimate struggle to free one's homeland.

If a Muslim Brother (or Sister) gets caught up in something their legal defense will be based upon distinguishing what he (or she) did and under what circumstances.

Media portrayal and legal proceedings in a court of law are two separate matter. Moazzam Baig may be a Terrorist according to the Media but he has been exonerated multiple times in legal trials.

The problems this Ummah facea are multifaceted. We are under assault from right wing Islamophobic people and Media and we get that. This what we know from our religion that our Emaan will be tested and we accept that.

We also know that there will be those amongst us who will sell us for petty gain....That has also been the way of the world, there are always those who try to make a quick buck on others....Opportunists as they always will be.

What we don't get is people like you who are not very smart, not very articulate, conspiracy mongers who just make silly snide remarks on the Ummah.

We know things are bad, we neither need you to tell us nor need your sarcasm at the time when we would rather concentrate on helping the Ummah.

It is deeply regrettable and unfortunate that we have to keep pivoting and watching our backs from people like you.

Most Unfortunate!

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#11 [Permalink] Posted on 13th November 2016 00:26

JazakAllah khair brother muadh, it does get very annoying having to read these sarcastic comments all the time. Hopefully this will be a means for all of us to actually think how our messages will benefit in future inshaAllah

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#12 [Permalink] Posted on 13th November 2016 09:27

What is Terrorism according to Daily Mail, Fox News and Terrorism according to old Bailey (or US Courts) are two separate issues.

The quicker Muslims get it in their heads the better equipped they will be to deal with the challenges, otherwise they will be peddling conspiracy theories.

Donald Trump with a 51 Majority Senate has actually no real powers to affect US Domestic policy in a significant way. Yes there will be trouble because he will try to appease his voting base but LGBTQ, Pro-Life and Climate Activists have more to worry about then Muslims...They are taking Muslims along with their cause

He can however impact Foreign Policy significantly and since he is a Non-Interventionalist it is actually fantastic news for Muslims.

We should evaluate issues and threats thoroughly before lashing out.

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#13 [Permalink] Posted on 13th November 2016 09:40

Are u naturally this stupid or just put it on in order to try provoke me? Kinda hard to tell. Did u even read my post or just begin barking auto pilot. 99.9 of israelis think israel is lawfully theirs and consider the muslims their as terrorists. If that is a conspiracy to you then go back to sleep. Ur too old for this

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#14 [Permalink] Posted on 13th November 2016 10:52

mkdon101 wrote:

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What Israeless consider has absolutely no bearing on what cause "Abu Muhammad" supports in "United Kingdom".

The point is what he is supporting and the legal underpinnings of his support.

Now do us all a favour.

1) Read what he wrote and his explaining

2) Now read your sarcasm

And if you have an ounce of shame, admit for once that you got the wrong end of the stick.

Lets see how much integrity you have!

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Israel's Arab soldiers who fight for the Jewish state

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