An original photograph of the IDF Minorities Unit marching for the “Army Day” parade in the streets of Tel Aviv on July 17, 1949. These soldiers, who seem to be Druze, are wearing kaffiyehs, traditional Arab headdress, with an IDF insignia on them.
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Minorities in the IDF - Military service is compulsory in Israel for all citizens over the age of 18. Arab minorities in Israel are mostly exempt from IDF service except for the Druze or Circassian minorities. The Druze community is an Arab community living throughout the Middle East with a distinct religion and culture. The Druze believe in being loyal to the country in which they live, and they are therefore drafted to the IDF. The Circassians are a small ethnic minority in Israel who originate in the Caucasus region on the border between Europe and Asia. The Circassians have lived in Israel since the days of Ottoman rule and also see themselves as loyal Israeli citizens. Bedouins and Christian Arabs, although not required to serve in the IDF, are encouraged to volunteer. Bedouins make up the majority of the Desert Reconnaissance Battalion. In the early years of the IDF, the Minorities Unit was established for Druze, Bedouin, and Circassian soldiers. Over time, the Minorities Unit was dissolved, as Circassian and Druze soldiers preferred to serve in regular units. Recently, there has been a rise in the number of Christian Arabs joining the IDF and also a small numbers of Muslim Arabs have joined the IDF.
