This week, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon visited the Negev town of Rahat and met with its Bedouin mayor, leading townspeople and IDF veterans.  

     Meeting in the town’s Peace Tent, Mr. Ayalon said, “We must embrace the Bedouin community, especially its IDF veterans.   It is not enough to accompany Bedouin soldiers to the enlistment office,  We should be seeing them through their integration into Israeli civilian life.  I think that ensuring that more Bedouin soldiers work in army and governmental offices would be one way of offering greater career possibilities.”

   The Bedouin leaders told Mr. Ayalon that they saw Israel Beytenu as a great ally in their struggle to have their voice heard and needs met by the government.  

    Mr. Ayalon added, “The participation of the Bedouin community in the IDF is an outstanding example of loyalty to the State of Israel and shows that the duty of responsible citizenship applies to all – regardless of ethnicity.”