By Sam Botrus, Linga Reporter

After exerting much effort through a struggle of 7 years to obtain the state’s recognition of the Aramaic nationality, Shadi Khalloul was able to register his son Jacob (2 years old) yesterday October 20th 2014 at the Israeli ministry of interior office in Safed. Jacob will be the first Christian to be officially registered as an Aramaic national in Israel. 

The state of Israel has previously ratified the recognition of the Aramaic nationality on the 16th of September 2014 based on the demands of some Christian figures along the many years to recognize this nationality as a minority living in Israel.

This recognition is considered a historical achievement, as only 4 nationalities are officialy recognized in Israel since its establishment: the Druze, the Arabs, the Jewish, and the Circassian nationality. The Christians living in Israel are considered to be arab nationals. 

Shadi Hulul who lives in Al-Jash Village has established the Aramaic society in Israel which consists of 515 Christians from AL-Jash, Nazareth, Rama, Haifa, Shafa Amr, and Ma’alya. The Aramaic society calls on the 133,000 Christians living in Israel to seek the registration as Aramaic nationals as opposed to their Aramaic nationality. 

Every Christian in Israel has the right to seek the ministry of interior and change their nationality into Aramaic. But those who are currently registered as other nationals and would like to change their nationalities into Aramaic, they will need to wait for a longer period to verify their affiliation to the Aramaic nationality or their Christian faith. this could be done through a process at the court or the Aramaic Society.