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Druze Arab Israeli Diplomat Assumes Post in Philadelphia
[Philadelphia Daily News] Stu Bykofsky - Raslan Abu Rukun is the new deputy general in the Israeli consulate in Philadelphia that handles affairs for Israel in six states. As a Druze Arab, Abu Rukun is among two Christians, three Muslims, and eight other Druze Arabs who are Israeli diplomats. The Druze-Jewish relationship is harmonious, and Druze loyalty is unquestioned. They are the only non-Jews drafted by Israel into its military, says Abu Rukun. He joined his country's diplomatic corps in 2006 and spent two years in Nepal. Culturally, "I'm an Arab, but if you talk about national or political identity, I'm Israeli." In addition to Israeli Arabs in the foreign service, an Arab sits on Israel's supreme court; an Arab is the minister of sports, culture and science, and more than a dozen Arabs are members of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. This is why it angers most Jews to hear Israel-haters call it "apartheid." It is a deliberate lie.