Arameans in Israel

Arameans in Israel (, , ) are a Christian minority residing in Israel who identify as Arameans, Syriac-Arameans or Syriacs.  They are claiming descent from a Northwest Semitic people who originated in what is now western, southern and central Syria region (Biblical Aram) during the Late Bronze Age and the Iron Age and until first centuries CE. 

Some Syriac Christians in the Middle East espouse an Aramean ethnic identity and a minority in Syria still speak a Western Aramaic language, although the Eastern Aramaic languages are far more widely spoken.  Most of the Aramaeans in Israel are Maronites.  Until 2014, self-identified Arameans in Israel used to be registered as ethnic Arabs or without ethnic identity.  However, since September 2014, Christian families or clans who can speak Aramaic and/or have an Aramaic family tradition are eligible to register as ethnic Arameans in Israel. 

The first person to receive the "Aramean" ethnic status in Israel was 2 year old Yaakov Halul in Jish on October 20, 2014.  In July 2016, an article in the Ha'aretz estimated the number of Israeli Christians eligible to register as Arameans in Israel to be 13,000.  In October 2019, the Israel Christian Aramaic Organization estimated the number of Israeli citizens, who are eligible to obtain Aramean affiliation at 15,000.  However, only 16 people have chosen to change nationality to "Aramean" (as of February 2017). 

History
Aramaean people originated in what is present-day western, southern and central Syria (Biblical Aram) during the Late Bronze Age and the Iron Age and until first centuries CE. 

According to a literal chronology of the Bible as written in the Book of Judges, much of the Land of Israel came under Aramean rule for eight years in the early 13th century BC, until Othniel defeated the forces led by Chushan-Rishathaim, the King of Aram-Naharaim.  Other entities mentioned in the Hebrew Bible include Aram Damascus and Aram Rehob. 

Large groups of Arameans migrated to Babylonia in southern Mesopotamia during the 11th and 10th centuries BC, where they established small semi-independent Aramaic kingdoms before being absorbed into the native population.  In the Levant and in Mesopotamia conquered Aramean populations were forcibly deported throughout the Neo-Assyrian Empire and Babylonian Empire e.g. under the rule of the 8th-century Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III. 

Religion 
Arameans are predominantly Christians of the East and West Syriac Rite.  The majority of Arameans in Israel are adherents of the Syriac Orthodox Church and the Syriac Maronite Church. 

Syriac Maronite Church 

The Archeparchy of Haifa and the Holy Land is a branch of the Maronite Church immediately subject to the Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites.  In 2013, there were approximately 7,000 members. 

Syriac Catholic Church 
The Syriac Catholic Church has a Patriarchal Exarchate formed in 1892 and is based out of the Church of Saint Thomas in Jerusalem.  As of 2015, there are 3 parishes in Israel with an estimated 3,000 adherents. 

Syriac Orthodox Church 
The Syriac Orthodox Church is the largest Aramean church in Israel and in general, covered by the Archbishopric of Israel, Palestine and Jordan under the spiritual guidance and direction of Archbishop Gabriel Dahho.  

The most notable monastery in Israel is the Monastery of Saint Mark in Jerusalem.  The Syriac Orthodox Church also has sharing rights to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and minor rights to the Tomb of the Virgin Mary where they possess an altar on the western side of the holy site. 

Recognition in Israel

Legal recognition
In September 2014, Ministry of the Interior Gideon Sa'ar instructed the  to recognize Arameans as an ethnicity separate from Israeli Arabs.  Under the Ministry of the Interior's guidance, people born into Christian families or clans who have either Aramaic or Maronite cultural heritage within their family are eligible to register as Arameans.  About 200 Christian families were thought to be eligible prior to this decision.  According to an August 9, 2013 Israel Hayom article, at that time an estimated 10,500 persons were eligible to receive Aramean ethnic status according to the new regulation, including 10,000 Maronites (which included 2,000 former SLA members) and 500 Syriac Catholics.  

The first person to receive the "Aramean" ethnic status in Israel was 2 year old Yaakov Halul in Jish on October 20, 2014. 

Another milestone in recognizing Aramean minority as a distinct culture in Israel was made by Israeli court in 2019, which ruled that Aramean minority could choose Jewish or Arab education, rather than making children with Aramean identity to be automatically designated to Arabic-language schools. 

Controversy
The recognition of the Aramean ethnicity caused mixed reactions among Israeli minorities, the Christian community, and among the general Arab Israeli population.  

While some celebrated the success of their long legal struggle to be recognized as a non-Arab ethnic minority, other members of the Arab community in Israel denounced it as an attempt to divide Arab Christians.  Representatives of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem officially denounced the move.  

Many in Israeli academia advocate the recognition of the Aramean identity and have called on the government of Israel to promote the awareness regarding this issue on the basis of the international principle of ethnic self-determination as espoused by Wilson's 14 points.  One of the staunchest supporters of the recognition of the Aramean identity is Father Gabriel Naddaf, who is one of the leaders of the Christians in Israel.  He advocated on behalf of his Aramean followers and thanked the Interior Ministry's decision as a "historic move". 

Demographics
In July 2016, an article in the Ha'aretz estimated the number of Israeli Christians eligible to register as Arameans in Israel to be 13,000. 

In October 2019, the Israel Christian Aramaic Organization estimated the number of Israeli citizens, who are eligible to obtain Aramean affiliation at 15,000. 

See also

Assyrians in Israel

External links
Arameans in the Middle East and Israel: Historical Background, Modern National Identity, and Government Policy

References

 
Category:Ethnic groups in Israel
Category:Syriac Christians