The death of Sgt. Elishai Young, a non-Jewish Hebrew Israelite soldier, has reignited the debate about citizenship for the Hebrew Israelites Community. The community, which believes it is descended from an ancient Israelite tribe, is not recognized as Jewish by Israel's religious authorities. Young and his family were given permanent residency but not citizenship before his death. The community has been campaigning for state recognition and citizenship for years, and the Interior Ministry and Population and Immigration Authority have yet to provide an answer regarding Young's citizenship status. The community participates fully in local life and campaigns on behalf of Israel, with most eligible youngsters serving in the IDF.