Syria’s Druze declare “Israel is the Iron Dome of the Druze in Syria”

Druze Community in Syria Weighs Options Amid Israeli Protection Offer

The announcement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on February 23, calling for the demilitarization of southern Syria and advocating for the protection of the Druze population, has stirred significant conversation in the region. The Druze make up around four percent of Syria’s population, with an estimated 700,000-800,000 living mostly in southwestern areas near Israel and Jordan.

“Israel is the Iron Dome of the Druze in Syria,” a Druze cleric from Sweida told The Press Service of Israel (TPS-IL), referring to the community’s growing interest in closer ties with Israel. Many, he added, would like to see Israel annex parts of southern Syria or establish reciprocal relations with the Jewish state. The southern city of Sweida, with a population of approximately 138,000, lies near the borders of Syria, Israel, and Jordan, making it a strategic location for the Druze.

Netanyahu’s comments marked a shift in Israeli policy, and many in Sweida are now considering whether their future lies in closer ties with Israel. However, the situation remains complex, with internal divisions within the Druze community. One resident noted, “On the one hand, elements in the Druze community are issuing statements that are pleasing to the ears of the new Syrian regime and talking about the unity of Syria.” On the other hand, some fear that giving up their weapons in favor of Syrian unity would leave them vulnerable to attacks from militias, including those loyal to the Syrian government and jihadist groups.

To protect themselves, the Druze in Sweida have strengthened their defenses. “We recently established the Sweida Military Council in cooperation with Syrian rebels,” a local source revealed. Despite these preparations, there is growing momentum within the community to establish closer relations with Israel, with some expressing admiration for the Druze population in the Golan Heights, who are integrated into Israeli society and enjoy greater economic opportunities.

One Druze cleric admitted, “We look at our Druze brothers in the Golan Heights, at their level of education, at their ability to work and earn a living, and we envy them.” However, the risk of retaliation from the Syrian regime for publicly advocating for such relations keeps many from speaking out openly.

Tensions between the Druze and the Syrian government have been rising, particularly after a clash in Jaramana, where armed Druze groups fought government loyalists, resulting in the deaths of two soldiers. While some Druze leaders, such as Sheikh Leitn Balous, have expressed loyalty to Syria, others, like Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, advocate for Druze autonomy, especially as the nature of the new Syrian regime remains uncertain.

In Israel, opinions about involving the Syrian Druze vary. Some within Israel’s Druze community advocate for annexation, while others caution against such a move, fearing it could endanger the well-being of the Druze in Syria.

The Druze in Israel, who trace their ancestry back to the Biblical figure Jethro, have historically served in senior positions in both the public and military spheres. The bond between Jewish and Druze soldiers is often referred to as the “covenant of blood.” However, the attitude of the Golan Druze, who refused Israeli citizenship after the Six-Day War, has evolved, especially since the onset of the Syrian Civil War in 2011. This shift in perspective could lead to deeper ties between Israel and the Druze community in Syria.