A Christian in the IDF

Corporal Eleanor Joseph

Corporal Eleanor Joseph, a female, Arab, Christian, Israeli has become the first female Arab-Israeli paratrooper in the history of the nation. Born in Gush Halav, the Joseph family moved to the city of Haifa and settled in an Arab neighborhood where Eleanor was raised. Growing up with a IDF paratrooper for a father, Eleanor Joseph always had a strong sense of national pride and honor. During high school Eleanor served as a volunteer in Haifa's Rambam hospital. When she became old enough, Eleanor volunteered for IDF service. She dreamed of becoming the first female Arab combat soldier, and passed through basic training at the head of her class. Eleanor insisted that her commanding officers allow her to serve Israel as a member of elite Karakal fighting unit. After excelling through her training Corporal Joseph was accepted into Karakal's ranks, becoming the first female Arab ever to do so.

The Female Warrior

Corporal Eleanor Joseph is a true Israeli patriot. When confronted by those who imply that she is in some way betraying her Arab identity by serving in the IDF, Eleanor thinks back to a time where Hezbollah rockets killed many of her Arab neighbors in Haifa. Eleanor says “if someone tells me that the service in the IDF is just killing Arabs, I remind them that Arabs are killing Arabs.”

In her wallet she carries a green note with a drawing of a Star of David on which it says: "I have no other country, even if my land is burning." The line is from the popular Israeli poet Ehud Manor, it is also Eleanor's personal motto. "It's a sentence that strengthens me" says Corporal Joseph. "Every time it's hard for me, I read it. Because I was born here. The people I love live here. My parents, my friends. It's a Jewish state? True. But it's also my country. I do not imagine myself living anywhere else. I think every person should enlist. You live here, reside here? Go defend your country. So what if I'm an Arab? " During Israels national anthem Corporal Joseph says that she loves to see Israels flag fluttering in the wind, "it's always windy during military ceremonies." she tells reporters.

Corporal Joseph earning her place

The Israel Politik blog used Corporal Joseph to launch their new “Faces of the IDF” series, in which they will show the diversity of the IDF through it's accomplished, multicultural members. Corporal Joseph serves as an excellent example of Israel's multicultural atmosphere. Her fame and status in Israel come as a big hit to those who would title Israel an “apartheid-state”, referring to its treatment of Palestinian refugees. It is true that Christians have been absorbed into Israeli Jewish society to a greater extent than Muslims, (Rosenthal. 309) and so the acceptance of Corporal Joseph can be seen as the next logical step in creating a lasting peace between Arabs and Jews in the middle-east.

The sources for my information on Corporal Eleanor Joseph came from three different web-sites. The first was the Israel Politik blog. It was on this blog that Corporal Eleanor Joseph was first given special coverage in the kick-off post for the “Faces of the IDF”. The information presented on this page gave the same opinionated information on the Corporal as I did, by leaning toward the idea that stories such has hers are good for the Jewish states reputation. Israel Politik's last line in the English language post on the Corporal was a quote by her speaking about her belief that peace can be established in the region- obviously a promotion of the idea of multiculturalism and Arab/Israeli peace.

The second source I used was Israel Matzav blog. This website give the same type of support for the Corporals promotion as the first sight. The last line in the blog post is “No, she's not Muslim - she's Christian.” I am not exactly sure how to take this statement. In the greater context of the story it could either show a prejudice to the Israeli-Muslim community or it simply be for the purpose of informing the reader. Since it comes at the end of the article, I think that it is probably a show of disdain for the Muslims, as its placement seems a little underhanded.

The last source I used for my entry was the Eyes 2 Israel blog. It again presented the Corporal as a “a true Israeli Patriot”, and gave the idea that her promotion was great for Israel's identity. The blogs article ends with “Eleanor doesn't have any other country; she is a true and a proud Arab Christian Israeli.” I feel like this line is also a slant at the Israeli/Muslim community, and as in the second article, I believe this may increase the level of enthusiasm that author may have for the Arab/Christian, IDF serving, woman.