Despite the continuous dispute surrounding Israel, Arab Christians also known as Arameans, are taking a stand to protect Israel.
Amir Shalayan, a 26-year old Arab Christian, is a volunteer serving Israel's armed forces. He is also supporting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bill to designate Israel as "the nation state of the Jewish people."
This bill would rebuff collective national rights to the Arab minority and take out Arabic language of its status as one of the country's official languages. However, plans to discuss the bill was postpone when Israel's parliament, broke up this month and a general election was called for March.
Mr. Shalayan has a firm belief on the Jewish faith. He also shows his support for officially declaring Israel a Jewish state even though that the presence of 1.7 million Arabs, including 161,000 Christians are within the borders. He has no doubts saying, "I'm supporting the bill." Mr. Shalayan added, "I would rather be a second-class citizen under a Jewish state than a first-class citizen in an Arab state. Arab countries don't have any system. They want to act according to Sharia (Islamic law). Christians have been persecuted all over the world and this is the only country (in the Middle East) that gives me the right to be Christian and practice my rituals."
Mr. Shalayan has been serving the Israeli navy, for three years and has been serving as regular reserve duty. He is also a member of the Israeli Christians Recruitment Forum Association, an organization that tries to convince other Christians to join the army. They have already recruited 100 and 150 Christian volunteers since their founding in 2012.