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Druze Villagers in Syria Advocate for Joining Israel

Amid turmoil in Syria, Druze leaders express hope for annexation to Israel’s Golan Heights.

In a striking plea for stability, Druze leaders from southern Syria have voiced their desire to join Israel’s Golan Heights. Speaking during a council meeting in Hader, a village in the Jabal al-Sheikh region, representatives of six Druze villages declared their preference for annexation to Israel over the looming threat posed by Sunni Islamist rebels. These rebels recently overthrew the Assad regime, a longtime ally of the Druze community in Syria.

The sentiments were captured in unverified videos shared on social media, where a Druze leader posed a direct question to the gathering: “What’s our fate, my brothers?” The resounding reply was unanimous: “Israel.”

The speaker elaborated, “If we have to choose, we will choose the lesser evil. Even if it’s considered evil to ask to be annexed to the [Israeli] Golan, it’s a much lesser evil than the evil coming our way. … That evil might take our women, might take our daughters. They might take our homes.”

This appeal comes against the backdrop of Syria's ongoing civil war and the Druze community’s precarious position. Once loyal to the Assad regime, many Druze villages now face a volatile and uncertain future as Islamist forces expand their control.

Israel’s Druze community, numbering over 150,000, is a vibrant and integral part of the nation, often celebrated for its strong sense of patriotism and contributions to society. Concentrated mainly in the Galilee and the Golan Heights, the Druze in Israel are unique among Arab-speaking communities for their deep integration into Israeli life, including voluntary military service.

In 1981, the Israeli Knesset extended Israeli law to the Golan Heights, solidifying its governance of the region. While the international community largely contested this move, the United States recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights in 2019 under the administration of then-President Donald Trump.

The Druze faith itself is distinctive, having emerged over a millennium ago as an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam. With influences from Judaism, Christianity, Greek philosophy, and Eastern mysticism, the Druze religion remains insular and steeped in tradition. The global Druze population numbers approximately one million, with significant communities in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel.

The Druze of Syria, who number over 600,000, are now caught between shifting alliances and threats from hostile factions. The appeal to join Israel reflects not only a pragmatic choice for security but also a recognition of the relative peace and prosperity enjoyed by Druze villages in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.

As these Syrian Druze villagers seek sanctuary and stability, their plea highlights the broader challenges facing minority communities in war-torn regions. Their call also reinforces the strong ties between Israel and its Druze citizens, who have long been a testament to Israel's inclusive and democratic values.

Israel continues to stand as a beacon of hope and safety in a region often defined by conflict and uncertainty. This sentiment is echoed by those who now look to Israel as a path to a secure future.

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