Unprecedented Visit: Syrian Druze Clerics Travel to Israel Amid Political Controversy
A delegation of sixty Druze religious leaders from southern Syria visits Israel for a religious pilgrimage, sparking debate amid heightened regional tensions and Israeli pledges to protect Syria’s Druze community.
Watan-Around sixty Druze religious leaders from Quneitra province in southern Syria traveled to Israel on Friday morning, in what has been described as an unprecedented visit, according to an AFP correspondent.
The visit was made in response to an invitation from Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, the spiritual leader of the Druze community in Israel. It includes a pilgrimage to a religious site, which has sparked criticism from some Druze figures, particularly as it follows Israeli statements pledging to protect Syria’s Druze population.
The group of sixty Druze clerics gathered on Friday morning at the edge of Hadar village, located in the buffer zone of the Golan Heights—most of which is occupied by Israel—while Israeli soldiers, stationed at newly established posts at the village’s outskirts, watched over the scene.
The AFP correspondent reported that two buses from the Israeli side arrived under tight security measures.
A source familiar with the visit, who requested anonymity, told AFP that the Israeli army prohibited the delegation from carrying mobile phones or allowing journalists to approach as they gathered.
According to a source close to the delegation, the visit includes a pilgrimage to the tomb of Prophet Shu’ayb—a revered figure in Druze tradition—on Friday afternoon. The delegation is also scheduled to attend the opening of a new religious center in the village of al-Buqei’a on Saturday morning, as outlined in Sheikh Tarif’s invitation program.
Druze Communities Across the Region
The Druze population is spread across Lebanon, Israel, the occupied Golan Heights, and Syria, where their main stronghold is Suweida province in the south, neighboring Quneitra.
Since the outbreak of the Syrian war in 2011, the Druze community has largely remained neutral, avoiding direct involvement in the conflict. They have generally not taken up arms against the regime nor actively joined the opposition, aside from a few exceptions.
Tens of thousands of Druze have avoided compulsory military service, opting instead to bear arms only for the defense of their own regions, while Damascus has largely turned a blind eye to this.
Israeli Statements Spark Controversy
Recent Israeli remarks have stirred tensions in Syria, particularly after Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated earlier this month:
“If the [Syrian] regime harms the Druze, we will take action against it.”
His statement came after limited clashes in Jaramana, a Damascus suburb home to Druze and Christians.
Many Druze leaders and religious figures have rejected Israel’s statements, reaffirming their commitment to Syria’s unity. Transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa also urged the international community to pressure Israel for an “immediate” withdrawal from areas it had recently entered in southern Syria following the ousting of former president Bashar al-Assad.
At the same time, negotiations are underway between Druze representatives and Syria’s new administration to reach an agreement that would integrate Druze armed factions into the Syrian Ministry of Defense.
