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Army rejects Muslim teen’s request to join pilot training course; youth sent to paratroopers instead
Yossi Yehoshua - Ynetnews

No Arab pilots for now: The IDF’s Personnel Directorate has decided to reject the request of an18-year-old Arab Muslim from northern Israel who sought to join the army’s prestigious pilot training course, Israel’s leading newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported Tuesday.

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The disappointed youth, who graduated from high school with honors and already holds a civilian pilot’s license, is expected to undergo initial tests on Thursday for the IDF’s paratroopers unit.

However, the teen’s father said the youth plans to appeal the decision to IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz, and if needed even take the matter to court, in order to open the pilot course for Arab Muslims as well.

Muslims are not obligated to join the army, and only a few dozens volunteer to the IDF every year. Hence, the Arab teen’s unusual request managed to surprise the defense establishment.

IDF Major (res.) Michael, the youth’s instructor at the civilian pilot course, who is himself a former combat pilot, even sent a reference letter to the IDF, praised the young pilot’s performance and recommended the Air Force welcome him to its ranks, adding that he was convinced his student was “loyal to the State.”

The teen’s father said Monday that “in the past few days I spoke with a senior official at the IDF’s Personnel Directorate who explained to me that the course is closed to the Arab sector for the moment.”

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‘My duty is to protect the State’

The youth was very disappointed when he opened the envelope sent to him from the recruiting office and discovered that he was being summoned to the paratroopers’ course instead of the pilot course.

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“Now I plan to join the paratroopers, but do not intend to give up on my dream to be a pilot. I will try again and again, until the door opens. I was educated to be devoted to the State and asked to join the Air Force because I believe that it is a great privilege and not a duty to serve in the army of the State where I grew up,” he said.

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“Of course I am aware of the fact that Israel is still in a state of war with some of the Arab countries, but I see myself as an Israeli in the full sense of the word. My loyalty is to the State of Israel and my duty is to protect it. I will execute any order I receive during my service,” he concluded.

Another person who supports a decision to integrate Arabs into the army’s pilot course is former Shin Bet Chief Major-General (res.) Ami Ayalon, who said that this is a fundamental issue and that the army should open all its special units to all citizens in accordance with regular security limitations.

The youth’s father added that he had high expectations the IDF would support his son’s request and accept it.

“Such a decision, if it had been made, would have constituted a breakthrough in terms of integrating Israel’s Arab citizens in all areas of life, and especially in the areas closed to us,” he said.

What can I say? The boy and his dad can not understand the fact that they should not believe all what the state says.

On the other hand, c’mon for God sake. Can we blame the Israelis? How many Jew pilots do we have around all the Arab/Muslim countries, if any? Of course for the media this is a flash news, but for the public, this must be common sense. I.e, after all, this is Jewish state, not Muslim/Arab one!

On other note, can you see how devoted some of our Arab/Palestinians are becoming to Israel state? The boy says that he will not hesitate to fire rockets on his bro. Arabs if the Israeli state ask him to. Well, while I can say that this boy and his alike are rare (I hope), it just shows how detached the Arab Israeli community are from their roots. And should I blame them? No I don’t. After all, they are living in much more democratic and culture free state than any of us are (if we can claim that we have democracy at all in Arab states).

Not only that, the living standards, education, health insurance, etc.. whatever, far better than any of us are living under. Yes, this is Israel, and we accepted UN resolutions 242 and 338, so no matter what we say or do, it does not apply on these people. Might not be enjoying the freedom of a Jewish citizen, but for God sake, give me what they are enjoying under the Israeli regime in any Arab country and I’ll shut up for ever!!

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