The secret life of the elite Muslim IDF soldier.
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,...523753,00.html
Private A. does not believe in talking politics with his brothers in arms in the Golani Brigade and his extended family think he's studying in Europe; but, he says, 'it is such a good feeling to see that I make people feel safe when I carry my weapon on the train or at the bus station'
Clad in his IDF uniform, Private A. looks no different to his brothers in arms in the elite Golani Brigade. It's been five months since he enlisted, and like everybody else, he's busy with the rough training, chatting with his girlfriend before lights out and dealing with his anxious parents back home.
But Private A. is no regular soldier. He's the talk of military town and was even invited for a Shabbat meal at his brigade commander's home.
When he went to the IDF draft base and asked to enlist, he was refused a combat role because he was overweight."They said, 'go home, get rid of 60 kilograms and come back', they didn't mind at all that I was Muslim," he says.
"The commanders here are really supportive of me and push me forward. I don't get any special treatment and I like it, but I do feel like I get more help because being here is my choice, unlike all the others."
"I feel like I've met people here that will stay with me long after the army," he says. "I've never heard a single racist comment here, not even as a joke. I pray five times a day and there's always a person by my side laying Tefillin… I fast on Ramadan, and the others on their (Jewish) holidays."
"You know what a good feeling it is for me, to see that I make people feel safe when I walk around with my weapon in the train or bus station?" he says. "No one asks if I'm Arab or Jewish. They Just see a Golani soldier."
Do you have relatives in the Palestinian Authority?
"Yes, in Hebron. They don't know about me, but I wouldn't mind if they found out, and I wouldn't care if they felt like branding me a traitor."
In a month's time, A. will finish his training, and then he plans to go home to his old neighborhood in uniform.
"Then I'll be able to say that I've made it…. I'm guarding our home here, and when a rocket is launched, it doesn’t distinguish Arab from Jew. And a terrorist who comes to stab you doesn't ask about your religion before he does so."