The Arab Soldiers in the Israeli Defense Forces Throughout Israel's Wars, 1948–73

This project examines the integration of Arab soldiers into the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and evaluates their contributions to Israel’s security until the 1970s. It expands existing scholarship by analyzing the roles of Arab soldiers—including Palestinian Muslims (primarily Bedouins and Circassians), Christians, and Druze—during the 1956 Suez crisis, and the 1967 and 1973 wars, a topic largely overlooked in research. The project highlights the 1973 war as a turning point in the integration of Druze soldiers into key military operations, marking a significant shift in their broader integration into Israeli society. This stands in contrast to the continued social marginalization of other Arab citizens in Israel. Drawing on archival research of Hebrew and Arabic documents, , newspapers, and other media, this study contributes to discussions on the impact of military service on the social integration of ethnic, religious, and national minorities in a nation-state. The poster will feature historical photographs and links to video materials.