Egyptian Air Evac

Beefitarian · Post by **Beefitarian** » Fri Feb 04, 2011 2:12 pm

I would be much more concerned about military service in Israel. I guess I don't want to have to serve for 3 years in France but it would seem less likely you'd be going somewhere there's going to be live fire.

rigpiggy · Post by **rigpiggy** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 11:00 am

the french don't recognize naturalization for 6 generations. During WWI, my great uncles were officers in the Royal West Nova's. When they hit the shores in France they were arrested, and were to be shot at Dawn as deserter's, the company Colonel told the French authorities that if they did that he would quick march the regiment back on to the troopship, and sail back to Canada. They were let out, but most died in the trenches anyway. My uncles couldn't visit france during the indochinese conflict as they would have been impressed into service, my generation are now considered naturalized and the family moved to canada in the 1870's.

Moose47 · Post by **Moose47** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 2:48 pm

<<<rigpiggy Post subject: Re: Egyptian Air EvacPosted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 6:00 pm

Rank (9)

Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2005 2:17 am
Posts: 1349
Location: west to east the french don't recognize naturalization for 6 generations. During WWI, my great uncles were officers in the Royal West Nova's. >>>

G'day rigpiggy

Just a minor point. The regiment was not pre-fixed by Royal. It was just the West Nova Scotia Regiment.

Cheers...Chris
Delta Company, W.N.S.R.
Middleton, Nova Scotia
1971-1974

azimuthaviation · Post by **azimuthaviation** » Mon Feb 07, 2011 9:09 pm

Want an interesting perspective on the matter? Talk to a Bedouin or Druze.

Or watch how many tens of thousands of druze came out to welcome Samir Qantar on his arrival back to Lebanon to know exactly how the Druze feel about the Israelis.

niss · Post by **niss** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 2:53 am

azimuthaviation wrote:
Want an interesting perspective on the matter? Talk to a Bedouin or Druze.
Or watch how many tens of thousands of druze came out to welcome Samir Qantar on his arrival back to Lebanon to know exactly how the Druze feel about the Israelis.

Actually that was very much my point. The Druze and the Bedouin are generally very loyal to the countries that host them. The Druze and Bedouin in Israel serve in the IDF.

azimuthaviation · Post by **azimuthaviation** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 8:50 am

The Druze and the Bedouin are generally very loyal to the countries that host them.

Israel is not "hosting" the Druze. The Druze have been there long before the Weinsteins of New York and Liebermans of Russia came to town. Their current loyalty to the state only extends to how far their self interests are concerned and will evaporate when Israel ceases to be the dominant power. Take for example the situation in occupied South Lebanon. In 1999 and 2000 when it was clear the Israel was not going to be staying the Druze pre empted the withdrawal by switching sides. The Israelis in turn rewarded their previous 22 years of loyalty and sacrifice by abandoning them to Hezbollah.

niss · Post by **niss** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 9:51 am

Except for the long standing agreement with Druze leaders. If I recall correctly Druze are nit exempt from IDF service, whereas Bedouin and Israeli Arabs (~Palestinians) are strictly voluntary.

azimuthaviation · Post by **azimuthaviation** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 10:44 am

Yeah Druze are conscripted into the IDF and serve in higher numbers than the Israeli Jews and usually go to into infantry and other lower level positions. As such they have suffered a disproportionately high loss of life in the Arab-Israeli conflict. The Israelis make it clear: the price to be even a second class citizen is very high if youre not Jewish.

niss · Post by **niss** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 12:57 pm

Blah blah blah rhetoric blah blah

Moose47 · Post by **Moose47** » Wed Feb 09, 2011 2:38 pm

azimuthaviation -

Let's see now. There has a been a Druze Major General, three Brigadier Generals a number of Colonels and Lt. Colonels as well as Druze pilots in the Israeli Air Force. I won't bore you with any more facts.

Things are slowly changing, perhaps not as fast as you would like but nevertheless they are. The Druze have been an integral part of the I.D.F. and continue to show their loyalty in both peacetime and war. Anyhow here's something for you to watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_uYzcCjN8I

azimuthaviation · Post by **azimuthaviation** » Wed Feb 09, 2011 6:33 pm

Nitpicking a few facts does not demonstrate anything except that it took 60 years of this "loyal service in peacetime and war" for a Druze to become a pilot in the IAF. By contrast my great uncle was an airforce pilot in Canada 70 years ago when there were only a few dozen or at most a few hundred Druze in Canada. Hitler had black pilots in the luftwaffe, but is that indicative of how minorities were treated in Nazi Germany?

Lets be clear the relationship between Druze and Israeli is one of mutual benefit not based on a shared ideological or any other beliefs. The Druze loyalty to Israel only extends as far as it is beneficial for them. The Israeli tolerance of the Druze living on their "promised land" is not based on some love for the Druze. The Druze know a shift in their political stance would cause this affinity to evaporate rather quickly.

Like the Israeli Druze poet Samih al Qasem wrote: "Oh Enemy of the sun
You may fool my people with a borrowed face
But, I shall not compromise
And to the last pulse in my veins
I shall resist
Oh enemy of the sun"