The all-Druze Herev Battalion training. Photo: IDF.

JNS.org – The number of Christians enlisting in the Israel Defense Forces hit an all-time high in 2013.

According to the IDF, in the second half of 2013, 84 Christian recruits signed up, more than three times the average to date. It is estimated that 300 Christians are serving in the Israeli military now, the highest total ever, Haaretz reported.

The rise in Christians in the IDF, who like other minority groups are not drafted like Israeli Jews, comes amid a push by Israeli Christian leaders to separate from Israel’s Arab Muslim community and forge their own identity.

Led by the Christian IDF Officers Forum, many Israeli Christians see military service as a means to integrate into Israeli society.