Other Groups in Israel.

In addition to the Jewish-Arab dichotomy, and the Jewish-Muslim-Christian triad, Israel has a host of other, distinct groups that make up the balance of the population.  The Druze are a sect that grew out of Islam but keeps its religious beliefs and traditions secret.  They number some 80,000 and speak Arabic, but are a separate community.  The Druze are very loyal to whatever country they live in and serve in the IDF, often with great distinction and prominence.  There are two major Druze villages on Mount Carmel (see the Haifa section for more information.)  Druze in the Golan, on the other hand, consider themselves still  to be  Syrians.  The  Bahà’ìs are a modern faith founded in the 19th Century, and their world headquarters are in Haifa with another major shrine in Akko.  The  Bahà’ì  faith teaches that all religious prophets (Moses, Jesus, Muhammed, and Buddha among them) are from God, humankind is one, and women and men are equal.  The Bahà’ì gardens and terraces in Haifa  are among the most beautiful sites in all Israel.  Don’t miss them.  The Circassians are Muslims who are originally from the Caucasus area of southern Russia, and they settled in the area in the mid-1800s after fleeing the aftermath of a failed war against Tsarist Russia.  They speak Cherkesi, written in the Cyrillic alphabet, and live mainly in two Galilee communities.  The Bedouin Arabs are the famed desert nomads of romantic films and novels.  They comprise nearly 10% of the  Arab population and belong to some 30 tribes, most of them scattered over a wide area in the south. Formerly nomadic shepherds and herders, the Bedouins are currently in transition from a tribal social framework to a permanently settled society and are gradually entering Israel’s labor force.   This is  a controversial policy with decidedly mixed results.  You will most notice them in the Negev or in the Judean wilderness on the way to Masada and the Dead Sea.  Many Bedouin serve in the IDF, particularly as trackers, and have a very distinguished record of service.  If you tour with Adam

Sela in the Negev (see the Negev section), you may have a chance to meet local Bedouin.