IDF Disbands Druze Battalion in Favor of Full Integration

By Michael Zeff

IDF Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Gadi Eizenkot, announced on Monday that the IDF will be closing the Druze "Herev" battalion.

The decision to disband the homogeneous battalion comes as a response to an ever growing demand by young Druze soldiers to integrate into various IDF units and positions.

Echoing the aspirations of Druze youth and after consultation with Druze soldiers and commanders as well as Druze community and spiritual leaders, the IDF is set to disband the unit in favor of bolstering the integration of the Druze minority in the IDF.

The "Herev" Battalion is an operational infantry unit and is a highly decorated battalion. It consists solely of members of the Druze community.

The Druze are an Arabic-speaking ethno-religious group in the Middle East, as of 2014, Israel has over 140,000 Druze, mostly residing in the north.