Gestern • 5 Min.

This is the English version of a German episode. Between 4,000 and 5,000 Circassians live in northern Israel: they're Muslim, but not Arab. Alongside the Druze, they're the only minority whose sons are subject to conscriptioninto the Israeli army. This episode is about why the Circassians' ancestors were expelled from the Caucasus in the 19th century, and how, after a long flight through the Ottoman Empire, they found a new home in Galilee. To this day, they preserve their own language and culture there. Plus: why an Israeli Circassian village was named one of the best tourism villages in the world in 2022, and who became the first non-Jewish captain of Israel's national soccer team. Want to support the work behind “Israel, Explained”? Become a monthly supporter, with an optional name credit and ad-free episodes:⁠ https://patreon.com/Israelkurzerklart⁠ Or make a one-time contribution of any amount:⁠ https://buymeacoffee.com/israelkurzerklaert⁠ Thank you! Questions, feedback, or topic suggestions: podcast@elisabeth-krafft.de Editorial & Production: Elisabeth Krafft Originally published in German as: Tscherkessen: Warum sinddiese israelischen Muslime keine Araber? This podcast was translated with the help of AI.