How a small, displaced Caucasian minority became a pillar of Israeli military and society

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Numbering only 4,000 to 5,000 people, Israel's Circassian community maintains a distinct cultural identity while serving in the nation's military. Descended from refugees of the 19th-century Russo-Circassian War, this Sunni Muslim group has preserved its language and traditions in two Galilee villages, navigating a complex path of loyalty and integration.

The Circassians are a Northwest Caucasian people who were forced from their homeland by the Russian Empire during the 19th century. Following the Russo-Circassian War, the Ottoman Empire settled these displaced people in the Galilee during the 1870s, establishing the villages of Kfar Kama in 1876 and Rehaniya in 1878. Initially, these settlers faced significant friction with local Bedouin and Druze populations, who viewed them as outsiders and agents of Ottoman authority. Despite these early challenges, the community thrived, earning praise for their agricultural expertise.

Today, the community remains concentrated in these two villages, with most residents belonging to the Shapsug or Abzakh branches. Their integration into Israel is unique; since 1958, male Circassians have participated in mandatory military service in the Israel Defense Forces, a requirement they share with the Druze. This commitment extends to the Israel National Police and Border Police. Despite this high level of civic participation, the community maintains a separate educational system, established in 1976, which helps ensure the survival of the Circassian language and heritage. They also exhibit high levels of academic achievement, with 80% of the younger generation holding post-secondary degrees as of 2012.

The experience of Israeli Circassians is marked by a tension between their loyalty to the state and their desire to preserve a distinct, often isolated identity. While they have prospered, they have also faced systemic challenges, including discrimination in resource allocation and employment. In 2011, the Knesset passed a bill allocating NIS 680 million to support development in Circassian and Druze villages in response to protests regarding these inequalities. Despite these hurdles, the community remains deeply committed to its roots, with over 90% of young people returning to their villages after military service, and many still harboring a long-term aspiration to see their scattered nation reunited in their ancestral homeland.

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