Wajdi Sarhan
Wajdi Sarhan | |
|---|---|
| Native name | وجدي سرحان |
| Allegiance |  Israel |
Branch |  Israel Defense Forces |
Service years | 2006-2017[1] |
Rank | Colonel |
Conflicts | 2006 Lebanon War |
Wajdi Sarhan (Arabic: وجدي سرحان, Hebrew: וג'די סרחאן) is a reservist in the Israel Defense Forces and a politician, announcing in 2026 the establishment of the first Israeli-Druze political party Alliance of Brothers.[2][3]
Career
Military
In 2006, Sarhan was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and appointed as commander of the Sword Battalion, who also led the battalion during the 2006 Lebanon War,[4] including battles in Maroun al-Ras and Ravashin.[5]
In 2007, he became deputy commander of the 769th Hiram Brigade, and then in 2009 was appointed as commander of the Dekel Battalion in Bahad 1. In 2011, Sarhan was promoted to the rank of colonel and appointed as the commander of the Alon Brigade. During his command, the brigade became an excellent infantry brigade in the reserve.[6]
In 2014, Sarhan was appointed as the population management department in the Personnel Directorate, and he remained in this position until his retirement from the military in August 2017. In his view, many Arab Israelis saw serving in the IDF as a way to improve their lives.[7] he promoted enlistment into the unit in an effort to "integrate minorities into the army". He believed that military service is "a great platform to connect the Muslim community to the state".[8][2]
Entry into politics
“This time we are asking for everything. This time we are taking responsibility for our future, for our lands and for our family. For years we waited for others to take care of us, but today we understand that it depends only on us. It is ours — and it is our responsibility. And today, as one bloc and together, we are deciding to go inside in order to change from within and lead.”
In May 2026, Sarhan announced the establishment of the political party Alliance of Brothers, to represent the interests of the Druze minority in Israel.[2] This party was created as a result of frustration from the Druze community for the lack of change and a desire for a more independent force politically in addressing the needs of the community.[9] The party states that it was working on development for two years, and is the first independent Druze party launched in decades.[3][10][11] Sarhan believed that while the Druze community carries the full responsibilities of Israeli citizenship, the community still faces restrictions such as the Kaminitz Law that limits construction in Druze areas along with the Nation-State Law that many Druze see as discriminatory.[12] He had also previously pointed out that Golani Druze don't have the same rights to economic development that other Israelis have.[13] While Druze have served in the Knesset before, they felt that they were bound to party discipline, and couldn't advocate for their community effectively.[3] He also criticized the political-security decisions that had been made by the Israeli government, calling for real peace and security.[3]
Sarhan's party platform outlines the following priorities:[14]
- Addressing the housing crisis in the Golan
- Safety and security
- Strengthening extra-curricular opportunities
- Increasing budgets for villages
During the 2026 Iran war, Sarhan appeared twice on Keshet 12 to discuss issues relating to the war, one of only a handful of Arab voices present in Israeli media during the war.[15]
References
- ↑ Server (c)2022, iPublish News. "رسميا : الاعلان عن اقامة حزب درزي جديد لانتخابات 2026". Panet (in Arabic).
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - 1 2 3 "First Druze party launched ahead of Israeli elections". The Jerusalem Post. 2026-05-04. Retrieved 2026-05-05.
- 1 2 3 4 Kraus, Yair; Kraus, Yair (2026-05-04). "For the first time in 3 decades: Druze party will run in national elections". Ynetglobal. Retrieved 2026-05-05.
- ↑ "המג"דים של מלחמת לבנון משתדרגים" [The battalions of the Lebanon War are being upgraded] (in Hebrew). Ynet. 18 April 2011.
- ↑ "איך מרכיבים חטיבת חי"ר במילואים?" [How do you assemble an infantry brigade in the reserves?]. Israel Defense Forces. Archived from the original on 26 June 2009.
- ↑ "שינוי כיוון בחזית הצפון: צה"ל ממקד את המאמצים בלבנון במקום בסוריה" [Change of direction on the northern front: IDF focuses efforts on Lebanon instead of Syria]. Ha'aretz. 26 March 2013.
- ↑ Harash, Rinat. "In bid to belong, Israeli Arabs sign up for Israel's army".
- ↑ Corbin, Jane (8 November 2016). "Israel's Arab soldiers who fight for the Jewish state". BBC News.
- ↑ "העדה הדרוזית משנה כיוון: המהלך שמטלטל את המפה הפוליטית בישראל" [The Druze community changes direction: The move that shakes the political map in Israel] (in Hebrew). Ma'ariv. 4 May 2026.
- ↑ Karmel, Ariela (2026-05-04). "Former IDF officer Wajdi Sarhan launches first Druze political party in decades". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2026-05-05.
- ↑ ""הפעם אנחנו מבקשים הכל": המפלגה הדרוזית שרוצה לעשות היסטוריה" ["This time we ask for everything": The Druze party that wants to make history]. Walla. 4 May 2026.
- ↑ "כחצי שנה לבחירות: האם המפלגה הדרוזית החדשה תפתיע בקלפי?" [About six months to the elections: Will the new Druze party surprise at the ballot box?]. Channel 14. 4 May 2026.
- ↑ "Will Israeli Bedouins Choose the Army Over the Islamic Movement?". Tablet Magazine. 2017-05-12. Retrieved 2026-05-05.
- ↑ Server (c)2022, iPublish News. "رسميا : الاعلان عن اقامة حزب درزي جديد لانتخابات 2026". Panet (in Arabic). Retrieved 2026-05-05.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ "המלחמה עם איראן חיסלה את שרידי הייצוג של החברה הערבית בתקשורת הישראלית" [The war with Iran eliminated the remnants of Arab society's representation in the Israeli media] (in Hebrew).