IDF Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot decided to close the Herev Battalion, which was established specifically for members of the Druze community.
In a statement from the IDF, the bond between the State of Israel and members of the Druze community was hailed as a “pledge among brothers.”
The move to close it down was undertaken in close coordination with the battalion’s commanders, senior leader in the Druze community and spiritual leaders. The IDF’s statement said the move was an opportunity to increase the integration of Druze soldiers in the IDF and promised to do so while cherishing the heroic past of the battalion, its fighters and its fallen.
According to the statement, some 80 percent of Druze eligible for military service join the army.
Members of the Druze community overwhelmingly serve in combat units, with many in elite commando units or in infantry brigades.
The Herev Battalion is a combat battalion with rich battle experience and it was noted for excellence during the 2006 Second Lebanon War.
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From the Liveblog of
Monday, May 18, 2015
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