Jerusalem Post, By
Anna Ahronheim APRIL 11, 2019 - https://tinyurl.com/y6gfhvm6
Col. Ala Abu Rukon has been appointed military
secretary to the president of the State of Israel Reuven Rivlin, the IDF
announced Thursday.
Abu Rukon, who is
currently serving as the IDF military attaché to China, will replace Brig.-Gen
Boaz Hershkovitz – who has served in the role for the past three years – and be
promoted to the rank of Brigadier General.
He was appointed
following a decision by Rivlin together with Prime Minister and Defense
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen Aviv Kochavi.
Congratulating Abu
Rukon on his appointment, Rivlin said “he is an impressive and professional
addition to the team of advisers at Beit HaNasi. I am confident that his
experience and skills will further deepen the strong ties with the IDF and the
whole security establishment.”
While Druze in the
Golan don’t need to serve, those in the Galilee like Abu Rukon do serve. Over
85% of Druze voluntarily serve in the IDF with a large majority in combat
positions or in special units and border police, with many reaching senior
positions in the military and police.
The 47 year-old
Druze resident of Usfiya holds a PhD in Middle East Studies from Bar-Ilan
University and is a married father of four children.
Abu Rokun has served
in the IDF for the past 25 years beginning as a soldier and commander in the
Paratroopers Brigade, and continuing in a series of command posts in the
Intelligence Branch for many years.
In addition, Abu
Rukon has commanded the Havat Hashomer base which helps soldiers who are part
of populations at risk.
In January, Rivlin
visited the base and thanked the commanders for their hard work in dealing with
“some of the most complex educational and command challenges.”
“Your determination
not to give up on any soldier – ‘no soldier left behind’ – the persistence, the
mental resilience required from you when you are sowing and reaping seeds of
hope, are an example to us all,” he continued.
During his visit,
Rivlin also asked soldiers who had criminal records to talk to their commanders
and to begin the process of clearing their records and that he as President
“will look at each application seriously.”
Abu Rukon is not the first member of a minority community to be appointed as military secretary to the President of Israel. Hassan Hassan, a retired brigadier general made history by being the first member of the Druze community to be appointed a military aide to the president of the State. He was appointed by President Shimon Peres, and stayed on for two years with Rivlin.
Abu Rukon is not the first member of a minority community to be appointed as military secretary to the President of Israel. Hassan Hassan, a retired brigadier general made history by being the first member of the Druze community to be appointed a military aide to the president of the State. He was appointed by President Shimon Peres, and stayed on for two years with Rivlin.
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