In the first half of July 2025, the Middle East once again finds itself in turmoil. And once again, there’s bad news concerning Israel—what else is new? This time, the crisis involves the brutal crackdown by the current Syrian regime against the country’s Druze minority. In this article, we’ll use these recent developments as an opportunity to explore the Druze community in Israel and the Middle East more broadly. This is part of a series about minority groups in Israel.
Let’s begin with a journey into one of Israel’s most fascinating communities.
Who Are the Druze?
The Druze are an ethno-religious group that branched off from Shi’a Islam in the 11th century. Like Jews, the Druze are both a religious and a national group. In the first two centuries of the faith, conversion was possible. However, since the 13th century, the religion has been closed—one can only be Druze if both parents are Druze.
The name “Druze” originates from Al-Darazi, one of the early preachers of the religion. The Druze faith is considered part of the Abrahamic religions and retains some similarities to Islam. For example, they observe Eid al-Adha (the binding of Ishmael rather than Isaac).
The religion is esoteric and secretive. Sacred texts are revealed only to those who choose a religious lifestyle, typically at age 16. Those who take this path adopt distinctive attire: men wear black and grow mustaches, while women wear black clothing and a white headscarf. Religious men also wear a traditional white cap. The Druze house of worship is called a “khalwa”, and there is no specific holy day.
A central and mysterious belief in Druze theology is reincarnation. Druze believe that upon death, a person’s soul is immediately reborn into a newborn of the same gender within the Druze community. As a result, Druze cemeteries are typically small and modest, and visiting graves is not part of their tradition. There are even numerous accounts of children who remember details from their supposed past lives.
History of Persecution and Loyalty
Because the Druze do not recognize Muhammad as the final prophet, they are not considered Muslims and have historically faced persecution from Muslim regimes. As a survival mechanism, the Druze were permitted to conceal their religious identity and practice Islam outwardly if necessary.
Today, there are an estimated 800,000 to 2 million Druze worldwide, mostly concentrated in a geographical triangle formed by Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. Historically, due to persecution, the Druze settled in remote mountainous areas.
In Israel, the Druze live primarily in two regions:
Northern Israel: Mount Carmel and the Upper Galilee. Druze in this region are full Israeli citizens.
Golan Heights: Druze here are legal residents but not citizens.
The Golan Heights was captured by Israel from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War and formally annexed in 1981. Israel offered full citizenship to the Druze residents, but most refused, fearing that if the territory were ever returned to Syria, they would be seen as traitors.
Due to centuries of persecution, Druze have a tradition of loyalty to the ruling government as a survival strategy. In Israel, they are known for their strong allegiance to the state. In Syria, they were loyal to the Assad family regime (both Hafez and Bashar) for protection. This historical loyalty is now a source of conflict: the new Syrian government views the Druze as having been allies of the former regime and is retaliating violently
The Druze in Israel
Since the founding of Israel, Druze men have been subject to mandatory military service, unlike other Arab citizens. They typically serve in combat units and are regarded as brave and loyal soldiers. Druze women, however, are not required to serve. Druze residents of the Golan Heights are not subject to military or civil service obligations and cannot vote in national elections. Many older Druze in the Golan still identify as Syrian exiles. In the town of Majdal Shams, for example, the Syrian flag still flies prominently.
By contrast, Druze citizens of Israel have been deeply integrated into Israeli society, serving in the army, police, and other public institutions. However, this relationship faced a major challenge in 2018 with the passage of the Nation-State Law, which declared Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, prioritized Hebrew as the official language, and appeared to marginalize non-Jewish minorities. This sparked widespread protest among Druze Israelis, who felt betrayed by a country they had loyally served. The wound caused by this law has yet to heal.
July 2025: A New Crisis
In July 2025, reports emerged that the Syrian government was violently targeting the Druze population in southern Syria. Israeli Druze communities urged the government to intervene. Eventually, Israel carried out an airstrike on the Syrian army’s headquarters—a warning shot to stop the massacre.
Some Israeli Druze, especially from the Galilee and Golan, crossed the border into Syria—breaking through fences—to fight alongside their Druze brethren. Many of them have military training from their service in the IDF. This is not the first time such calls for intervention have arisen. Since the start of the Syrian Civil War in 2011, Israeli Druze have consistently pressured the government to open the border and offer refuge to Druze fleeing persecution.
Newsletter photo: Druze protest near the Israel-Syria border. Credit: AP Photo/Leo Correa, REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi (YNET).
Cultural Insight: The Syrian Bride
A recommended film that offers a window into the Druze experience is “The Syrian Bride”—a comedy based on real events. In Israel, there is a shortage of Druze grooms, leading some Israeli Druze women (especially from the Golan Heights) to marry Druze men from Syria. However, once a bride crosses into Syria, she cannot return, effectively cutting her off from her life in Israel.
The film follows a week in the life of a young Druze bride from the Golan Heights preparing for her move to Syria. On the day of the wedding, everyone is waiting on both sides of the border. Still, the Jewish Israeli border official is absent—he’s celebrating Passover with his family in Tel Aviv.
Final Thoughts
One can only hope that the rumors of a non-aggression pact between Israel and Syria are true. If so, it could be a turning point for the region.
We also remember Eli Cohen, “our man in Damascus,” whose remains are still buried in Syria.
Jeremiah 31:16
This is what the Lord says: “Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded.”
declares the Lord. They will return from the land of the enemy”. We are waiting for all to be back home.
