Not the Typical IDF Soldier’s Mom: Muslim Arab Mother Whose Son Serves in the IDF Speaks Out
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Anet Haskia Arab MK Arab Mother IDF Arab-Jewish city IDF Soldier's Mom Israeli politics Israeli society Israeli soldiers Jewish School Jewish State Pillar of Defense
Anet Haskia and family. Photo: Anet Haskia.
Anet Haskia is not the typical mom of a soldier serving in the Israel Defense Forces. A Muslim Arab, who grew up in a mixed Arab-Jewish city in the north, Haskia is breathing a little easier this week.
For Haskia, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision not to enter the Gaza Strip last week was “brave and right.”
The mother of three children, with a 20-year-old IDF combat soldier, Haskia told Tazpit News Agency, that “many Israeli soldiers’ lives were saved thanks to that decision.”
“Going into Gaza would have yielded success for the Hamas terrorists. Israel did what it had to do for the time being to stop the rocket attacks and played it smart.”
Haskia who was born and raised in Acre (Akko), a mixed Arab-Jewish city in the Western Galilee in northern Israel, is openly vocal about her support for the Jewish state of Israel.
“I am proud to live in Israel,” she says. “I am even prouder that both my sons have served as soldiers for this country.”
“If I was living in Gaza, I would have no rights as a woman under Hamas,” explained Haskia. “And you can’t expect anything different—Hamas is a terror organization, they treat people like animals with no regard to human life. They will never hold democratic elections like they do in Israel.”
“I’m open about these truths,” adds Haskia. “The Arab MKs in the Israeli Knesset don’t represent me. The extremist left-wing in Israel also doesn’t represent me and others in my community who share my beliefs. Those corrupt politicians just contribute to hate, incitement and lies.”
“When an IDF soldier is killed in combat, not one Arab MK will stand up and offer his condolences to the bereaved family,” she exclaims. “These Arab MKs enjoy democratic rights but don’t appreciate them.”
Anet explains that her attitude towards the Jewish state as a member of the Arab minority country stems from the fact that she was raised in a home that “respected both Hebrew and Arabic-speakers.”
“When I grew up in Akko, we had good relations between Jewish and Arab families.”
“I realized early on that I wanted my children to advance in Israeli society. They studied in a private Jewish school on a kibbutz and were exposed to a different mentality. It was not an easy road, but I taught my children to always be proud of their identity and not to cry and whine like our politicians.”
During Israel’s Operation Pillar of Defense, Haskia did not just sit worrying over what may happen to her son—the proud mom did her share to help Israel as well. “Over 12 years, Hamas has been firing rockets at Israeli civilians and all you see are photos of Gaza in the media. Some of those photos are fakes,” Haskia pointed out.
“I noticed many times in Arab media that ‘Gaza’ photos of bleeding civilians were actually photos from other Arab conflicts in the Middle East— Syria and Iraq for example. They were being used to incite hatred against Israel, so I started to post these fake photos and their origins on my Facebook wall.”
Haskia has political ambitions as well. “I want to be part of Israeli politics some day and make a change by representing my people politically. There are many people who are too scared to speak up, who love Israel like I do and have done well here. They want a future where their children will not fall to hatred and incitement, but overcome that. I want to be their voice,” she concludes.
2:12 am
Honest. Intelligent. Impressive. Important. Facts, not hype. Deep feelings, not manufactured propaganda.
Now let us put her words in front of every thinking person on the planet, every delegate to the United Nations, every member of every legislature, every editor of every newspaper, every teacher, every clergyman.
Good luck with that, eh.
3:23 pm
I am gratfied by Haskia, of course, but I wonder how many Israeli Moslems agree with her. I hope there are a substantial number.
5:15 am
Anet, we all root for you, go for it !
11:37 am
I hope you stand for election. I’m an Israeli citizen living in London and I’ll vote for you if I can.
10:53 am
ASI TENIA Q SER TODOS LOS ARABES Q NACIERON EN ISRAEL Y TIENEN DOCUMENTACION ISRAELI
KOL HAKABOD
GRACIAS
1:31 pm
thanks Haskia
I hope that you will succed in you poilitical project and Kol Hakavod to your sons
11:19 am
I am pleased to hear a rational human being speaking from the Arab population. I wonder though who you consider your “people” the whole of Israelis, including Jews, or just other Arabs?
1:31 am
Thank you Aanet… you’re a bright flame during these dark times…I hope your flame ignites the courage of other Israeli-Arabs to come forth & show the world how they truly feel.
6:48 am
I admired Anet Haskia from the day she courageously appeared on Israeli TV to express her love and loyalty for her country Israel, after which she proudly told viewers that her son is an IDF soldier and she isn’t afraid of any opposition she may encounter from fellow Arabs due to that. She should indeed try for the Knesset, and perhaps her best choice would be the Likud which was the first party to bring a Druse, Ayoub Kara, into its ranks. Kara quickly became one of the most popular and successful of all Likud MKs and today is a Minister in the present government. Gaining place No.25 in the primaries on the Likud’s list of candidates will hopefully, mean he will again serve in the next Likud government.
7:03 am
b”H
Kol HaKavod, Haskia, and beHatzlacha in your political endeavours. May you be and your whole family and your friends of similar leaning be blessed with everything good.
6:52 am
This article MUST be seen and read by ALL! Here is a brave Arab women, who is not afraid to speak the truth. Arabs who want to live in peace with Israel can live a much better life in Israel than in ANY Arab country.
3:35 am
What a wonderful woman, mother and human being! We should all (Jews as well as Arab citizens) follow her example! I am proud to count the Haskia family as my countrymen, and all honor to them, their faith and their culture!
2:54 am
Thank you Haskia for being a role model and an inspiration!!
I wish I could vote for you RIGHT NOW!!!! (Unfortunately I live in America)
11:57 pm
Thank you Haskia!
11:51 pm
She has my vote. Good to hear the other side.
11:48 pm
She has my vote. Let’s all get along and have peace.
11:07 pm
May Aanet Haskia be successful in her political ambitions on behalf of her people. With such a leader, co-existence and peaful relations with its Arab neighbors can become a reality for Israel, rather than merely an on-going hope for a future than is continually put off.
9:43 pm
Kol HaKavod to you, Haskia, you have given me some hope today.