Israel's highest-ranking Muslim soldier has described how he
endeavours to make his service a source of pride to his father, despite
many treating him as a traitor.
Growing up in the village of Reineh in the Galilee - where many
believe he has betrayed Arab-Israelis - Major Alaa Waheeb said he never
imagined he would be part of the Israeli Defence Forces, let alone go on
to become its most-decorated Muslim.
The major was speaking while in Britain for a tour of communities organised by the grassroots group Zionist Federation.
But the soldier, who has served as a platoon commander and was an
operations officer in the Gaza brigade during the disengagement in 2005,
could not even speak Hebrew until he was 18. [..]
He admitted that when he first joined the IDF, he was "very hesitant"
about fighting Arabs, especially as people in his village would ask:
"Are you going to kill and murder Arab people, because this is what the
IDF is doing, isn't it?"
The major said he "understood where this question comes from, because
these Arabs in Gaza and Lebanon are relatives of people who live in my
village," but said that when it came down to it, "I had no special
feelings.
"Those are my enemies as well. If someone is firing rockets from
Gaza, they may be an Arab, but their rocket can hit my house as well.
"Slowly but surely I began to fall in love with the people in my
unit. My life never felt like it was less important than their lives. We
became brothers in arms. I am happy with that, because every moment of
co-operation between Israeli-Arabs and Israeli Jews reduces the risk of
war, and makes the chances for peace higher."[...]
Let's hope he's for real, v'hamaivin yavin....we might want to keep an eye on him for the rest of his life. ...
ReplyDeleteSilly, pointless comment. But hey, go right ahead -- I hereby nominate you to keep an eye on him for the rest of his life.
ReplyDeleteI thought you would know that that was not meant literally. ....
ReplyDeleteA number of years ago a prominent "leftist" journalist came here to the DC area to speak. It was a small group of us who attended the meeting at the home of a local activist.
ReplyDeleteThis "leftist" was explaining his "Aha" moment when he realized co-existence was a fantasy.
There was a famous, successful Arab actor, a citizen of the State of Israel. He was the beneficiary of much good from the State, including the opportunity to be a star.
The actor was being interviewed. He said (paraphrase): "I hate my blue eyes when I see them in the mirror every morning. They remind of the blue of the Zionist flag."
Ok. So maybe he was making a statement that there should be a different flag more representative of all the citizens of the State.
But for the reporter, who till then was settled in his liberal status, it was a moment where he realized it's not going to work Jews and Arabs in the Land of Israel.
On the first day of the year we remind ourselves of this in the Torah Laining for Rosh Hoshana. "He (Yishmael) will not inherit with Isaac."
So, thank you to this soldier who is of the Chasidei U׳mos Ha'olom. Thank you for putting your life on the line for Jews.
But giving him an equal share in the Land is not listening to what Sara I'mainu said.
Silly and insensitive and racist and helps contribute to the problem.
ReplyDeleteThe original article makes clear that the soldier's father was an Ohev Yisrael as he grew up smong observant Jews, and the soldier joined the army at the behest of his father, and against his mother's wishes. So he had real Mesiras Nefesh just to get past the opposition of his family and community.
ReplyDeleteThis is understandable. Yishmael had Mesiras Nefesh to be circumcised at age thirteen, snd in this merit Arabs were able to live in Eretz Yisrael when few Jews were there.
Now, however, the Land of Israel is not the place for Arabs as full equal citizens, as opposed to say living there as a Ger Toshav.
In the end, when Yishmael told Yitzchak about his, Yishmael's self-sacrifice, Yitzchak expressed his willingness to give up not just one part of himself, but his entire self to serve Hashem.
So yes, this Arab soldier has some claim to live there, but it is an Arab trait, as taught in the Torah, that Arab's don't share. So you have a basis to express caution, and wonder about the wisdom of giving equal status to this respectful and honorable man.
Literally, figuratively, apocryphally, whatever -- still a boneheaded comment.
ReplyDeleteThis country is afraid to make racist statements, so that is why when the Ft. Hood shooter has been espousing jihadi ideology, no one had the fortitude to stand up to him because they were afraid of being called racist and thereby being the subject of persecution including risk of losing their jobs.
ReplyDeleteThat is why whenever there is a terrorist attack, the media pretends that they do not know 1) it came from a Muslim and 2)that it came from a jihadist.
That is why when Donald Trump, the only one who has the guts to dare put restrictions on immigration is the only one with courage who wants to address the cause of such terrorism AND LOOK INTO THE TERRORIST IDEOLOGY while all the other politician cowards immediately had to fall over themselves and apologize for the mere mention of questioning about this uncomfortable and sticky stuff.
The world, especially the Jewish people have suffered from Islam, a doctrine of terrorism and jew hatred and if we are smart, it is about time to study and understand it.
Furthermore, I have spent some time a long while ago from the website "Memri.org" and also jihadwatch.com .
Also, the literature I have read about this may give me somewhat of an idea Robert Spencer has written extensively such as, "Islam Unveiled", "The Truth About Muhammad", "Religion of Peace?", "The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam" and more....."BecauseThey Hate" and b They Must Be Stopped" by Brigitte Gabriel, "Now They Call Me Infidel" by Noni Darwish, "A G-d Who Hates" by Wafa Sultan, "Why We Want to Kill You" by Walid Shoebot and more,..................................Bottom line from all this: Proceed With Caution ...
I thought I'd share a light comment, perhaps a melitzah, but nonetheless, a lesson: why are they called Chasidai umos ho'olam?
ReplyDeleteAnswer : Halacha is that Esav hates Yaakov. Since the Chassidim are the ones who are not always in line with Halacha, the goyim who are not careful in that din are called Chasidai umos ho'olam! ....
Okay, playing tennis?
ReplyDeleteI gave more than enough to illustrate my observation, your turn now...
Only proves the Brisker Rav and the Chazon Ish were right. The IDF is truly the melting pot of the Israeli society. It can make even an Arab love the Jews. And some are naive to think a young chareidi Bochur can retain his identity?
ReplyDeleteSo an Arab can join Tzahal and come out an Arab, a secular Jew can join and come out secular, but a religious Jew gets transformed? What does that say about the strength of his education and convictions? What are they worth if the only way to keep them intact is to hide behind a wall?
ReplyDeleteThanks, or ...to get this point, just follow the news ; -) ...
ReplyDeleteOld trope.
ReplyDeleteMaybe a little nuance. Perhaps people are on the whole susceptible to their overall environment.
Did you know that despite the deep racial divisions in America. 80% of army brats born into military family and born on military bases do not differentiate themselves by race or by color. It's naive to assume that being in such an environment does not dull and de-emphasize differences.
Many years ago someone, a married man, asked my Rabbi, Rabbi Arthur Bogner z"l, why is it forbidden for a woman to wear a sleeveless dress. The question may have had to do with the hot, humid, sweltering summers we have here in the Washington area.
ReplyDeleteThe questioner pointed out that he did not seem to consider a woman's uncovered arm as especially arousing.
This is the answer the man told me he heard from the Rabbi.
"When a mirror has a lot scratches, another scratch doesn't matter that much."
Most Druze & Chrisitian Arabs enter the Idf with favorable POV towards Israel & Jews so not indicative of the Rabbi's point.
ReplyDeleteSo does the work environment, walking the streets of YERUSHALAYIM, using the light rail & bus lines or any activity outside of shul/Yeshiva dull & deemphasize differences.
ReplyDeleteEmpathy & Ahavas increases will a deemphasizing of differences BTW.
Assuming we are in agreement that there is a value of retaining ones traditional and societal values I presume that based on your comment you are implying that you agree that army service is an even bigger influencer? Thus an even greater reason to avoid it.
ReplyDeleteGreat.
But if your trying to argue that the influence of my 20 minute a day ride on the Jerusalem light rail is comparable to a 2 year army service which brings me into constant personal contact with secular/non halachic values, with a large focus on a brotherhood in arms (as evidenced in the article above) then I suggest you are being disingenuous or sloppy in your analysis.
One factor that might be worth reckoning:they have a common enemy with the Israelis (although there were also once Christian Arabs in the PLO..). ..another factor might be worth considering that they don't have jihadist ideology. ..
ReplyDeleteExtremely precious things that more often than not fragile are kept behind heavy metal doors and secure locks... Your right. Rare diamonds and rubies are not that valuable because their hidden away behind walls
ReplyDelete