Netanyahu Meets Druze Leaders in Julis and Vows Help for Syrian Druze

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Thursday with Sheikh Muwafaq Tarif and other prominent Druze leaders in the northern Israeli town of Julis, pledging concrete action to aid Syria’s embattled Druze community in Sweida.

During the visit, Netanyahu toured a civilian operations center established at the Sheikh’s residence to monitor events unfolding across the border. He also met with the family of Cpt. Amir Abdullah Saad, a Druze officer who fell in combat during Israel’s war against Hamas. “He fought with supreme courage for Israel’s security,” Netanyahu said, offering his condolences.

The emotional weight of the visit was evident when Netanyahu referred to Sheikh Tarif’s remark, “The Jews in the Holocaust called for help, and no one came.” The prime minister described it as “a dart to the heart,” adding, “We are brothers. Will Israel not extend a hand to save our Druze brothers? We acted.”

Netanyahu said that upon grasping the magnitude of the crisis in Sweida, the government responded immediately. He then laid out a three-point plan for action:

1. Protect the Druze communities in Sweida and other southern Syrian areas.

2. Work to establish a demilitarized zone stretching from southern Damascus to the Sweida district.

3. Create a humanitarian corridor to allow food, medical supplies, and construction materials into affected areas.

“These discussions are happening right now,” Netanyahu said, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. He noted that such measures are part of a broader vision he shares with former U.S. President Donald Trump “peace through strength.”

The escalating conflict in Sweida has placed the Druze community there in severe jeopardy, with rising calls among Israeli Druze for intervention. Violence between Druze militias and other factions has intensified in recent months, following regional shifts in control and instability along Israel’s northern frontier.

Israel’s Druze community deeply integrated into Israeli society, especially within the IDF has maintained strong ethnic and familial ties with their counterparts in Syria. That connection has only deepened in the face of humanitarian threats across the border.

Netanyahu’s visit to Julis, accompanied by senior officials including his Chief of Staff Tzachi Braverman and Military Secretary Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman, reinforced a message of solidarity and decisive intent.

As regional tensions grow, Israel continues to demonstrate not just military readiness, but a commitment to shared humanity and historical responsibility. Share this story or subscribe to our newsletter for updates on Israel’s humanitarian efforts and diplomatic developments.