Is a new Druze state emerging with Israel’s help?
With Israel on their side, the Druze of southern Syria, and perhaps Lebanon, have hope for a brighter future.
Druze rally in the Northern Israeli village of Hurfeish in support of Syria's Druze
Israel recently vowed to defend the Druze population in southern Syria amid attacks by the new Sunni jihadist rulers in Damascus. New reports suggest the Druze are taking that Israeli backing and moving to establish autonomy, if not independence.
Viral video clips on social media show Druze in the Suwayda Governorate of southern Syria raising the Israeli flag.
Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar reports that the Druze spiritual leader in Israel, which has a Druze population of 120,000 (with another 23,000 on the Golan Heights), has been sending money to the Druze communities in both Syria and Lebanon and encouraging them to break away under Israeli protection.
The Druze as a people are historically loyal to whichever state in which they live, and that has been true in Israel. The Druze in Israel long ago bound themselves to the Jews as “blood brothers” and are the only minority in the country that insists on performing mandatory military service alongside their Jewish countrymen.
But in Syria and Lebanon, the Druze, loyal though they’ve been all these decades, are increasingly under attack by the jihadists of Hezbollah and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the ISIS-like Sunni movement that recently seized power in Damascus.
The Druze on the Israeli Golan Heights are a special case. The Golan came under Israeli control in 1967, long after the Druze of the Galilee had sworn fealty to the Jewish state. Most Druze in the Golan never took citizenship and do not volunteer for IDF service due to their concern of being branded “traitors” if one day the Golan is given back to Syria as part of a peace agreement. Nevertheless, they are friendly to Israel, though their primary concern is for their brothers who remain on the Syrian side of the border.
Israel views the Druze of the Golan and southern Syria as potential allies, and even “blood brothers” like the Druze of the Galilee. The Druze faith reveres Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, creating a deep and ancient connection between the Druze and the children of Israel.
Last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz warned the new Syrian regime not to send its forces south of Damascus, and in particular to stop threatening the Druze suburb of Jaramana.
“We will not allow the terrorist regime of radical Islam in Syria to harm the Druze. We have instructed the IDF to prepare and deliver a harsh and clear warning: If the regime harms the Druze, it will be harmed by us,” the Israeli leaders said in a joint statement.
“We are committed to our Druze brothers in Israel to do everything to prevent harm to their Druze brothers in Syria, and we will take all necessary measures to ensure their safety,” the statement continued.
Druze forces from further south reportedly began heading north toward Jaramana under cover of the Israeli Air Force. Together with the Lebanese report regarding the activities of Israeli Druze leader Mowafaq Tarif, that sparked speculation that the Druze could move to establish an autonomous zone, if not independence in the Suwayda Governorate of southern Syria.
The Suwayda region has a population of almost half a million, over 85% of whom are Druze. Another 10% are Christian, a minority that is similarly under assault in this new Syria. Under Druze governance and Israeli military protection, Suwayda would undoubtedly be the safest area for Syrian Christians.
On social networks and in the media, Druze today speak openly about not wanting to live under an Islamist state in Syria.
With Israel on their side, they hope for a brighter future.
1 comment:
They deserve it, a damn sight more than the "Palestinians" do.
Post a Comment