Israel must help the Druze in Syria create an independent state

.: June 10, 2015

The author shared his opinion about the necessity for Israel to help the Syrian Druze community in the creation of an independent state.

The civil war in Syria has reached Israel and those closest to it in the region. Rebels, whatever their affiliation, are now in control of almost the entire area bordering Israel, with the exception of the Quneitra crossing and the Druze village al-Khader, about 3-4 kms from the Druze village Majdal al-Shams on the Israeli Golan Heights. The UN peacekeeping forces who for decades manned the no-man’s zone separating Israel and Syria are virtually gone, making a confrontation between the sides more likely than ever.

Some areas taken by the rebels or besieged by them are more of concern to Israel than others. One such area is Jabal al-Duruz (Mountain of the Druze), the region to the south of Damascus and north of the border with Jordan. Located about 80-100 km from the Israel-Syria border, the area is home to over one million Druze and a small number of Christians. After World War I it was included within the French mandate over Syria. In 1921 it was declared by the French as an independent state. But in 1939 the French merged the small state they had created into Syria, in part because of the 1925 Druze anti-French rebellion.

Resorting to arms in 1925 was not new for the Druze, a community known for centuries as brave and independence loving and, above all, loyal to legitimate sovereigns. Consequently, the Israel Druze community, about 1.5% of the total population, swore allegiance to Israel back in 1948 and as of 1957 has been represented in all branches of the Israel Defense Forces. Their loyalty allowed Israel to count on them in certain highly sensitive units and operations.

Today, this small but tremendously loyal community is in dire straits. Their fellow Druze in Syria are in grave danger, almost fully encircled by rebels, the most sinister of which are members of the Islamic State. The world has learned that whomever the IS do not accept, they annihilate. This is the fate awaiting the Druze if they do not stand assert their presence in the mountain. However, they lack basic foodstuff, humanitarian supplies, small and heavy armaments and aerial cover.

This is the point at which the State of Israel must make up its mind and take a bold but clearly necessary step: rescue the Druze community in (former) Syria and help them escape the fate of the Iraqi Yazidis.

Israel should begin by parachuting the basics, and if necessary escalate its involvement into clear military moves. It is no secret that Israel did help the Iraqi Kurds under similar conditions, it is a known fact that Israel is capable of rushing help to Nepal and other far away locations in order to save human lives. This should be the first interest of the Jewish State: humanitarian.

However, there is much more here than meets the eye: the Israeli Druze citizens are connected to their brothers across the border and it is our duty to help these citizens. Again, Israel has always taken care of Jews all over the world when necessary. There is no difference between the two cases. Furthermore: Israel abandoned its South Lebanon allies about 15 years ago, leaving them to suffer. It is a unique opportunity to rectify that mistake with a humanitarian move. The Middle Eastern people must realize that working hand in hand with Israel gives them full backing when needed.

The Middle East is undergoing major changes. Old boundaries are being erased from the map and new entities appearing. Most of them are based on tribal and religious primordialism. The Druze can and should establish within that context their own entity that would guarantee their survival in a hostile environment. Indeed, that idea was first raised in the wake of the 1967 Israel-Arab war and by that time, the Druze leadership rejected it out of loyalty to the Syrian national state. That obstacle does not exist today.

It is a community in danger, a situation with which Jews are so familiar. With full Israeli support, it can become their finest hour by creating their own sovereign and independent national entity in the Middle East.

Alexander BLIGH © I24News (Israel)

Prof. Alexander Bligh, heads the Middle East Research Center at Ariel University. He served as the prime minister’s adviser on Arab affairs from 1987 to 1992 and as director of the Israel National Strategic Assessment Center.