Citizens of Israel
Druze and Ethiopian Israeli citizens are treated differently than other Israeli citizens. Even though they have citizenship like Jewish Israeli citizens, they are not treated as authentic citizens. Druze community members are not only active volunteers in the Israeli Defense Force (IDF), but their men are the only non-Jewish citizens who join the military combat (Rosenthal, 307). Druze also serve as Members of Knesset (MK) (Rosenthal, 308). In 2007, the first non-Jewish member of the Knesset became acting president when Moshe Katsav resigned. He was a member of the Druze community (Rosenthal, 308). Yet, when the Basic Law of Israel was created and voted on, Druze communities were not considered. On one hand, the Basic Law lays down the ground for Jews to have a state of their own. On the other hand, it created a situation where those who are not Jewish but have been loyal citizens to the State of Israel, feel betrayed. According to The Times of Israel , Rami Zadeen, a ...