Alaa Waheeb is an Arab Israeli citizen who is the highest ranking Muslim officer in the Israel Defense Forces. ^[1]

Alaa was raised in Reineh near the Sea of Galilee and went to a Christian School in Nazareth. His father growing up in Yavne’el had good relations with his Jewish neighbors which motivated him to join the Israeli border police. It was his influence that motivated Alaa to join the Israeli army. Alaa's mother was a devout Muslim. Alaa could not speak Hebrew until he was 18.

After high school, he went on to study mechanical engineering at Haifa’s Technion.

Two years past and he was accepted to join the Israel Defense Forces in March of 2000. He attempted to be apart of the Golani infantry brigade, an elite unit known for its Ashkenazi, and although he was at the top of his class, he was removed from the group 2 weeks later. The reason that his commander gave him was that he lacked the proper security clearance.

It took him years, slower than his Jewish counterparts, to rise within the IDF.

Today, he is the highest-ranking Muslim officer in IDF history with his most recent position being in charge of the Ground Operations’ vast training zone in the Negev Desert.