Amira al Hayb
Encyclopedia
Amira al Hayb (born in 1985) was Israel
's first female Bedouin
soldier in a combat position. Al-Hayb served in the Israel Defence Forces and the Israel Border Police
.
in the Upper Galilee
. Her family moved to Wadi Hamaam when she was a few months old. At the age of 19, al Hayb decided to join the Israel Defense Forces
. While the recruitment of male Bedouin is common in Israel, this was considered taboo
for women. Nur al Hayb, "father of the Bedouin soldiers," a disabled IDF veteran
from Eilabun
village, came to her aid.
Al Hayb had to do the recruit training twice due to language problems but eventually joined the Israel Border Police. Her position as the first female Bedouin soldier attracted media attention. She has met with many leading figures in Israel, among them the Israeli President Moshe Katsav
and the Israeli Chief of Staff, Shaul Mofaz
. Following her lead, more Bedouin women have joined the IDF.
Amira's brother, Taysir Hayb
, received an eight year prison sentence for manslaughter in the death of International Solidarity Movement
activist Tom Hurndall
.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
's first female Bedouin
Bedouin
The Bedouin are a part of a predominantly desert-dwelling Arab ethnic group traditionally divided into tribes or clans, known in Arabic as ..-Etymology:...
soldier in a combat position. Al-Hayb served in the Israel Defence Forces and the Israel Border Police
Israel Border Police
The Israel Border Police is the gendarmerie and border security branch of the Israel National Police. It is also commonly known by its Hebrew abbreviation Magav , meaning border guard, whilst its members are colloquially known as Magavnikim . Border Guard is often used as the official name of the...
.
Biography
Amira al Hayb was born in Tuba-ZangariyyeTuba-Zangariyye
Tuba-Zangariyye or Tuba az-Zanghariyya is a Bedouin town in the North District of Israel that achieved local council status in 1988. It was formed by the merger of two villages, Tuba and az-Zangariyye. Populated by the Bedouin tribe of El Heib, Tuba is situated near Kfar Hanassi, overlooking the...
in the Upper Galilee
Upper Galilee
The Upper Galilee is a geographical-political term in use since the end of the Second Temple period, originally referring to a mountainous area overlapping the present northern Israel and southern Lebanon, its borders being the Litani river in the north, the Mediterranean Sea in the west, the Beit...
. Her family moved to Wadi Hamaam when she was a few months old. At the age of 19, al Hayb decided to join the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
. While the recruitment of male Bedouin is common in Israel, this was considered taboo
Taboo
A taboo is a strong social prohibition relating to any area of human activity or social custom that is sacred and or forbidden based on moral judgment, religious beliefs and or scientific consensus. Breaking the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society...
for women. Nur al Hayb, "father of the Bedouin soldiers," a disabled IDF veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
from Eilabun
Eilabun
Eilabun is an Israeli-Arab local council in Israel's North District, located in the Beit Netofa Valley. According to the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, Eilabun had a population of 4,400 inhabitants in 2005. The population is predominantly Christian...
village, came to her aid.
Al Hayb had to do the recruit training twice due to language problems but eventually joined the Israel Border Police. Her position as the first female Bedouin soldier attracted media attention. She has met with many leading figures in Israel, among them the Israeli President Moshe Katsav
Moshe Katsav
Moshe Katsav is an Israeli politician. He served as the eighth President of Israel, a leading Likud member of the Israeli Knesset, and a Cabinet Minister in its government....
and the Israeli Chief of Staff, Shaul Mofaz
Shaul Mofaz
Lt. General Shaul Mofaz is an Israeli politician who serves as the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs And Defense Committee at the Knesset...
. Following her lead, more Bedouin women have joined the IDF.
Amira's brother, Taysir Hayb
Taysir Hayb
Idier Wahid Taysir Hayb is an Israeli sergeant in the Israel Defense Forces who shot International Solidarity Movement civilian activist Tom Hurndall while on duty in Gaza on April 11, 2003. Hurndall died in January 2004. Taysir Hayb was sentenced to eight years for manslaughter. His sentence was...
, received an eight year prison sentence for manslaughter in the death of International Solidarity Movement
International Solidarity Movement
The International Solidarity Movement is an organization focused on assisting the Palestinian cause in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict using nonviolent protests. It was founded in 2001 by Ghassan Andoni, a Palestinian activist; Neta Golan, an Israeli activist; Huwaida Arraf, a...
activist Tom Hurndall
Tom Hurndall
Thomas "Tom" Hurndall was a British photography student, a volunteer for the International Solidarity Movement , and an activist against the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. On 11 April 2003, he was shot in the head in the Gaza Strip by an Israel Defense Forces sniper, Taysir Hayb...
.
Further reading
- An interview with Amira al Hayb (Hebrew)