My name is Yahya Muhammad, and I am 21 years old. I am an Israeli, an Arab, a Muslim, and a proud soldier in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
I grew up in the Arab village of Umm al-Fahm, in a country I once began to resent—but over time, I fell in love with Israel. I wanted to give back to my country, so even though military service isn’t mandatory for me, I chose to enlist in the IDF and join a combat unit.
At first, I was nervous about how my platoon would react to serving alongside a soldier from a Muslim background. But from day one, I was welcomed with open arms and treated with nothing but respect and admiration.
Today, I’ve officially completed advanced training in the Nahal Infantry Brigade. Standing at the ceremony alongside the brothers I’ve trained with for the past eight months, I felt immense pride in accepting the responsibility of guarding Israel’s borders and protecting my country.
What made me fall in love with Israel is the resilience of its people, and I am proud to be part of that story. I am proud to be me: an Israeli, an Arab, a Muslim, and an IDF soldier.
