Surge in Israeli Christians Serving in the IDF

The number of Christians enlisting in the IDF has doubled since the establishment of the Israeli Christians Recruitment Forum slightly more than year ago.

According to the forum’s data, 84 Christian soldiers have enlisted since June 2013 alone, a number that not long ago was not reached in an entire year

Nearly 90 Christian soldiers  from all over the country and from all IDF units met together earlier this week in the Lower Galilee city of  Nazareth Illit, where Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told them, “The purpose of this forum is clear: to engage Christians who serve in the IDF. The importance of your actions goes without saying…. I salute and support all of you. I know that the mission is not always easy.”

Father Gabriel Nadaf, a Greek Orthodox priest and president of the Forum, told the soldiers, “As a Christian spiritual teacher living in the Middle East, I understand that human rights are not something to be taken for granted. For that, I thank the Jewish people and the State of Israel. I believe in cooperation between Jews and Christians and our shared fate in a Jewish country. I believe that we can contribute to Israel and I call on all Christians to join the army and help us to protect this country.”