Leaders from the Druze minority together with others take part in an earlier rally on Aug. 4, 2018. (Reuters/Corinna Kern) Updated 08 August 2018 AP August 08, 2018 00:00 247 The leaders of the protest are retired senior officers who have fought for the Jewish state and seek equal rights Israel’s nationalist government says the recently passed law merely reinforces the country’s Jewish character AHIHUD, Israel: Israel’s Druze minority — Arabic speakers who serve in the country’s military — are protesting the contentious “Nation-State” law, saying it downgrades them to second class citizens. The leaders of the protest are retired senior officers who have fought for the Jewish state and seek equal rights. Israel’s nationalist government says the recently passed law merely reinforces the country’s Jewish character. Tens of thousands of Druze Israelis, along with Jewish supporters, thronged a Tel Aviv square on Saturday night in a rare demonstration against government policy by the typically muted community. Unlike the Muslim and Christian Arab minorities, Israeli Druze are drafted to the military and many strongly identify as Israeli. They have risen to senior military positions and have served as senior ministers and diplomats.