"Israel is an immigrant country, an assemblage of cultural groups from all over the world - a multiethnic state combining Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews, Bedouins, Druze, Arabs and more, who coalesce to make the country great," he explains. "We are compelled to find a common language and common ground, despite our differences."


Back with his family in their tiny house in Khawalid several months later, he determined to bring Americans over for a personal guided tour of his homeland - "the best place on earth, and the small part of it that is my wonderful village." It did not take him long to fulfill this vow: Soon after starting his studies at the University of Haifa, he was arranging visits for foreigners with the help of Prof. Barry Berger, director of the overseas student program. Eventually, he says, thousands of people came to learn about Bedouins in Israel "and the story of one Bedouin in particular who visited America."

Serving his country

Before earning a master's degree from Tel Aviv University in political science with a concentration in international relations, Khaldi did two years of voluntary service as a police officer, first with the border patrol and later in Jerusalem. His hand rested on a Koran at his swearing-in ceremony, and he notes that he was continuing the tradition of Bedouin men who have chosen to do military or national service since before the state was officially founded.



"I had put my life on the line for my country, and now I wanted to serve it as a diplomat. My idea was to explain Israeli society, culture and politics from the perspective of the Bedouin minority in the Jewish state. My ultimate goal was to advocate for Israel and dispel the myriad of erroneous 'facts' that are unfortunately often accepted as truth."

He is quick to add that he wasn't setting out to paint Israel as a perfect place. "Like every other nation in the world, Israel has its problems," he says. Nevertheless, he was blindsided by the ferocity of Israel hatred he encountered - especially among Jews - that often earned him a less-than-warm reception.

He took to reminding Americans that the United States is not perfect either, despite a much longer nationhood than Israel's. He explains that he believes in a positive approach, searching for solutions as a free member of a democracy, rather than less constructive avenues of criticism.

"I know discrimination in Israel continues to exist. But I feel it is our role, the younger generation's, to dedicate ourselves to the elimination of discrimination and to seek true economic and social justice throughout our society," writes Khaldi. "There is an African American [US] president, but that doesn't mean discrimination does not exist in America, and it also doesn't mean that African Americans should wash their hands of their country of birth."


Khaldi is still a proud Bedouin and believes that a Jewish state is in the best interest of Israel's minorities. "It was through their alliance with the emerging Jewish state that the Bedouins began to transcend the isolation that was part of their nomadic history," he relates to anyone who cares to understand this bit of Middle East history. "My family, too, has reaped the benefits of this alliance, receiving health care, education, job training and pensions. ... Israel's right to exist is my right and my people's right."