Haifa University launches program helping Druze IDF veterans pursue higher education

The University of Haifa announced this week that it is launching a new program aimed at assisting demobilized IDF soldiers from the Druze community who wish to pursue a degree or develop their professional skills and qualifications.

The program, titled “Northern Radiance,” began in April with an inaugural cohort of 19 participants and will run for four months. It includes preparation courses for the psychometric university entrance exam, alongside training aimed at strengthening professional skills and improving long-term employment prospects. In addition, the program offers career counseling, social activities, guided visits to historical and cultural sites across the country, and seminars led by prominent Israeli public figures.

The initiative is part of a broader effort led by the IDF Human Resources Directorate and the Defense Ministry’s Population and Immigration Authority, and is being carried out with the support of the Jewish Federation of Chicago and the Jewish Federations of North America.

Participants may also be eligible for scholarships, personal laptops, living stipends, and additional forms of assistance for those in need.

University of Haifa President Gur Alroey said "Northern Radiance" was established as an “expression of deep gratitude” towards Israel’s Druze population, which is widely recognized for its service in the IDF, with many soldiers distinguished for their professionalism, courage, and advancement to senior ranks and positions of significant responsibility.

“We see the program participants as the next generation of leadership in Israeli society, and we are proud to provide them with the tools to lead meaningful change in their personal lives and in their communities.”

Israeli Druze are ethnically Arab and Arabic-speaking, but they have a longstanding tradition of identifying strongly with the State of Israel. During the 1948 War of Independence, Druze villages – primarily located in the Galilee, around Mount Carmel, and in the Golan Heights – openly expressed support for the Zionist cause.

In 1957, Druze community leaders formally requested that their young men be drafted into the IDF alongside Jewish Israelis. Israel’s small Circassian community made a similar request in the early years of statehood, and together they remain the only non-Jewish communities in Israel subject to mandatory conscription. Many Druze soldiers go on to serve in elite combat units and pursue long-term military careers.

A significant number of Druze officers also serve in the Border Police, where their Arabic language skills and cultural familiarity enable more effective engagement with Arab communities in Judea and Samaria, as well as cooperation with security counterparts in neighboring countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.

Despite this tradition of service in the IDF, some Druze veterans have raised concerns about limited opportunities for social and economic mobility outside the military. In recent years, there have also been demonstrations from within the community highlighting perceived gaps in state support in areas such as education.

Successive Israeli governments have pledged to improve services and investment in Druze communities, though some activists say implementation has been inconsistent, contributing to ongoing debate over the issue.

It is hoped that “Northern Radiance” will eventually be expanded to additional institutions of higher education in Israel, providing more Druze IDF veterans with access to academic and professional training opportunities to support their future advancement.