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 professor at the University of Kansas who is a reliable source because of his extensive research on the Druze in Israel, reported that Druze communities are not being treated equally. Although their salary and education budgets are the same as Jewish communities, their infrastructure and development budgets are 25% to 40% smaller than Jewish towns. Druze communities have increased in size, but they have not received any new villages or land to build on. 

In another Times of Israel article, Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Muafak Tarif stated even though Druze citizens show unlimited loyalty to the State of Israel, they are still not treated equally. Another Druze member Shachiv Shnaan, who was also a MK for Labor, stated when the law passed, he not only felt like a second-class citizen, but felt his son is now considered a second class fallen soldier for his service in the IDF.  These statements further the reliability that Druze citizens truly do not feel treated as authentic citizens of Israel and their expressed disappointment. 

The Times of Israel also reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a statement to the Druze community leaders on their holiday of Ziyarat al-Nabi Shu’ayb, that he hears their concerns, difficulties and needs. He went on to say that he has enacted policies to increase financial investments in Druze communities in order to minimize the gaps between the different communities and increase equality. He emphasized that they are a part of Israel and Israel is a part of them. The article stated Netanyahu’s team has also set forth proposals to provide Druze citizens who serve in the IDF with financial benefits. These promises made to the Druze leaders have not been verified through any other sources. 

Worse than Druze members feeling they are not treated as authentic citizens of Israel are Ethiopian Jewish citizens. For centuries Ethiopian Jews practiced Judaism according to the Five Books of Moses and from parts of the ancient Bible (Rosenthal, 163). Yet, they are still treated as though they are not real Jews by the rabbinate. Even though in 1973, Sephardi Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, a well-respected rabbi, stated that Ethiopians are authentic Jews from the tribe of Dan (Rosenthal, 164). The Times of Israel reported that during the 19^thcentury many Ethiopians were forced to convert from Judaism to Christianity, especially from the Falash Mura community and are therefore required to go through Orthodox conversions after immigrating by the Chief Rabbinate. They do not require the same of Ethiopian Jews from the Beta Israel community because they recognize them as fully Jewish. This poses an issue for Ethiopian Jews who want to get married in the city of Petah Tikva as they are regularly denied marriage licenses.

The view point of the author shows sympathy towards the Ethiopian Jews because of the story included in the article and the organizations that are mentioned who help the Ethiopians feel that they matter. Shega is an Ethiopian Jew who was denied a marriage license by the rabbinate. She and her husband were discriminated against and told to register somewhere else because their background check did not prove they are practicing Jews, even though they had all the correct paper work. Shega gave anecdotal evidence that there are at least 30 other Ethiopian Israeli couples who had the same experience. 

The article goes on to say that in 2013 the High Court of Justice ruled that rabbis are not allowed to demand further proof of any Jewish conversion, but according to Rabbi Chuck Davidson this still happens. In 2014, there were still complaints made by Ethiopian Israelis in Petah Tikva of discrimination against the rabbinate and against Sephardic Chief Rabbi Binyamin Attias for denying marriage licenses. 

Non-Government Organizations such as Tzohar, are working hard to help Ethiopian Israelis feel they are just as Jewish as an Israeli born Jew by creating options for them to get married outside of the rabbinate. They were even considering opening an office in Petah Tikva to help make the marriage process easier for Ethiopian Jews who are discriminated against by the rabbinate. Tzohar shows a level of inclusiveness at which they work to make Ethiopian Israelis feel validated as Jews of Israel.

Not only does Tzohar work hard, Rabbi Chuck Davidson also works hard to help, not only Ethiopian Israelis, but also other Jews marry outside of the rabbinate. Rabbi Davidson is a reliable source because of his appearance in other articles. He mentions how the Rabbinical Council of America and other groups have made it virtually impossible for anyone to do an Orthodox conversion which is recognized universally. Rabbi Davidson risks jail time in order to help Jews of different backgrounds marry outside of the rabbinate.