Christian Arabs protest against Israeli occupation army recruitment drive

Hundreds of Palestinians took to the streets in Nazareth yesterday in protest against recruiting Christian Arabs in the Israeli occupation forces.

Reports said that about 300 Palestinians attended a gathering in the centre of occupied Nazareth. They carried Palestinian flags and posters reading: “I will not serve in the occupation army. With our unity, we will face the authoritarian assault. I will not serve my occupier.”

Meanwhile, a senior officer in the Israeli army told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz that voluntary recruitment orders, which are to reach the Christian youth, would encourage them to enrol in military service. The officer expected 100 Christian youths to be recruited by June.

Data published by Haaretz shows that 40 Arab Christians have already been recruited by the army.

On Tuesday, a senior Christian religious official announced his support for the recruitment of Arab Christians in the Israeli occupation army. He said that the leadership of the Israeli army had told him it would start sending voluntary recruitment orders to Christian citizens of Israel.

Head of Orthodox Christians in Nazareth Gabriel Naddaf told the Israeli Radio that “recruitment orders are to start reaching 17 and 18-year-old Christians.” He noted that he had received a full explanation about the duties of the Christians in the army. It would help them merge in the country’s institutions.

Many Christian leaders reject the recruitment drive and object to Christians serving in the Israeli forces.

Recruitment in Israeli occupation army for Arabs in Israel is still non-obligatory; however, some Arabs have already joined.