Sword Battalion
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The Sword Battalion, previously Unit 300 and also known as the IDF Minorities Unit, was an Arab-dominated military unit of the Israel Defense Forces. It predominantly enlisted Druze, who made up the m
Druze officer of Israel's Sword Battalion, 2007
Bedouin soldier serving in one of the minority units of the Israel Defense Forces, May 13, 1949
Druze Israeli soldier guarding a mobile power station with a Mauser Kar. 98k rifle, May 13, 1949
Bedouin Israeli soldiers at a military parade in Tel Aviv in 1949
Circassians in Israel
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About 4,000–5,000 ethnic Circassians are citizens and residents of Israel. They live primarily in two towns: Kfar Kama, and Rehaniya.
Sword Battalion
…enlisted Druze, who made up the majority in the unit until it was disbanded in 2015, although a sizable number of recruits were Bedouin and non-Arab Circassians. Men from the Druze and Circassian communities are subject to Israeli conscription laws, while Bedouin and other Arabs may voluntarily enlist for…
Israeli Circassians in traditional ceremonial clothing with the Circassian national flag, 2010
Coat of Arms of Adygea in the Circassian Heritage Center of Kfar Kama
Site of Circassian village established in 1860, abandoned due to malaria
Circassian youth in traditional dress in Israel