Brig. Gen. Dr. Bader made history when he became the IDF’s first Druze chief medical officer.
Brig. Gen. Dr. Tarif Bader was sworn in Thursday as the IDF’s chief medical officer, marking the first time in Israel’s history that the position is manned by a Druze officer.
Bader replaced Brig. Gen. Dr. David Dagan, who served in the post for three years.
“It is our duty to preserve the lives of our soldiers and grant the necessary medical treatment to them and to anyone who needs it, across all parameters: routine missions, operational activity, and in times of emergency,” Bader said. “This is the challenge that we face and that obligates us to be at our best at all times.”
Previously, Bader headed the IDF’s medical mission to treat wounded Syrians on Israel’s northern border and commanded three of the military’s humanitarian delegations: Haiti in 2010, Nepal in 2015 and Turkey in 2016.
The Druze are a monotheistic religious and social community found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan. Their religion is rooted primarily in Ismailism, a branch of Shia Islam.
The Druze, a religious minority in Israel, are known for their military courage and dedication to the State of Israel. Today, 85 percent of Israel’s male Druze population choose to join the Israeli military, and many will continue their service far beyond their scheduled release dates.
The Druze religion is rooted in Ismailism, a branch of Shiite Islam. Communities are mostly found in Syria, Lebanon and Israel.
Israeli Druze have attained top positions in politics and public service. The number of Druze Knesset members, representing diverse political parties, exceeds their proportion among the Israeli population.
By: JNS.org and United with Israel Staff