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Some of Israel's Minorities Are Grateful to Be Israeli Citizens
(JNS) Ariel Ben Solomon - With the rise of Islamists and the persecution of minorities in the Middle East, especially Christians, gaining steam in recent years, some of Israel's minorities say they are thankful they are Israeli citizens and not living elsewhere in the region. Atta Yemini Farhat, chairman of the Druze Zionist Council for Israel, says, "We lived here under the occupation of the Arabs before 1948, and we are blessed and love Israeli independence....The Druze don't want to rule the country and feel themselves to be an integral part of the state." Shadi Halul, an Israeli Aramean Christian and a captain (res.) in the IDF, heads the Christian IDF Officers Forum, which helps recruit and support Christians serving in the IDF. "Israel independence is also my independence; I feel part of the country," he said. "Thank God that...the Jews returned to their homeland and created freedom for the Jews and the Christians in Israel...since the Arabs even today do not recognize our Christian existence."