The IDF has created a unique unit so
that Israeli-Arab Christians can fulfill their ambition to overcome the
language barrier and serve their country.
By: United with Israel Staff
The IDF has launched a unique program for Israeli-Arab Christianswhich enables them to
integrate into the army and serve their country.
The Nachshon Platoon consists of 24 Arabic-speaking
Christians who volunteered to join the IDF based on one motivation: to
contribute to the State of Israel.
After years of low draft percentages among the
Arabic-speaking Christian community in Israel, no more than a dozen draftees a
year, things have now changed. In the latest draft
class, 24 soldiers of the Arabic-speaking Christian community volunteered to
serve in the IDF.
The motivated soldiers began their military service
with a three-week preparatory program at the Michve Alon training base in
Israel’s north to overcome their biggest challenge: Hebrew.
The Nachshon Platoon was established especially for
the Arabic-speaking Christian population in Israel.
It’s a place of education with a familial atmosphere.
“The preparations for the culminating ceremony make me
very emotional,” said Lt. Sapir, commander of the Eyal Company, where the
soldiers were first taken in.
“They’re amazing soldiers and their Hebrew has improved
unbelievably. I’m sure they will go far in their service,” she added. “Our goal
was to improve their Hebrew level with the understanding that they’re aiming
for significant positions that require a proficient level of Hebrew.”
The course mostly consists of Hebrew lessons, along
with lessons about heritage and connection to Israel, and additional subjects
related to the soldiers’ unique identities.
“The fact that Arabic-speaking Christians have a course
and a platoon of their own strengthens the idea that the IDF is a place that
does, and always will, care for them,” explained Nachshon Platoon Commander Lt.
Shlomit, who accompanied the soldiers throughout their training.
“The platoon is going to open a door for the whole
Arabic-speaking Christian community,” Lt. Gardi, the course commander said.
‘Contributing
to My Country’
Pvt. Assad, one of the course graduates, expresses
pride in successfully completing the course, and his satisfaction is evident in
every word he says.
“I used to not speak Hebrew at all. I knew almost
nothing, but the course has made me comfortable with the language and I’ve
tremendously improved,” he shared.
“The platoon is like a family, like brothers- far more
than friends,” he said emotionally. “Everyone helps one another. We’re a team,
something larger together.”
Assad grew up in an Arabic-speaking Christian family in
northern Israel. His desire to volunteer in the IDF comes from a surprising
place.
“My father is a truck driver. I wanted to be like him,
to make him proud of me but it was important for me to contribute to my country
as I am a part of it,” he explained.
As he had hoped, Pvt. Assad will soon begin his service
as a cargo truck driver. “The course has provided me with the integration that
I wanted and I am very pleased.”
Pvt. Tazmuz’s favorite word in Hebrew is
self-confidence. “It’s what has improved the most in me,” he shares. “I have a
good feeling about the job I’m going to be doing, but it’s not enough for me. I
want to be an officer- that’s the largest contribution I can give.”
“Since its establishment, the IDF has been the people’s
army, serving as a way to bring together all the different communities in
Israel to meet,” concluded Lt. Col. Dorit Maoz, the Michve Alon Base
commander. “We all have a common house within the IDF, with mutual values,
responsibility, and caring for each other.”
Approximately 20 percent of Israel’s
eight million citizens are Arabs. According to the Israeli Democracy Index, a
public opinion survey conducted last year by the Israeli Democratic Institute
and the Guttman Center for Surveys, 65% of Israeli-Arabs are proud to be Israeli.
Israel is the only safe haven for Christians in the
Middle East, while their numbers diminish as a result of Muslim persecution in all other areas of
the region.
No comments:
Post a Comment