Approximately 60 Syrian Druze clerics made their inaugural pilgrimage to Israel since 1948. They visited the Tomb of Nabi Shuaib and met the Druze spiritual leader in Israel. The pilgrimage faced opposition from some members of the Druze community in Syria amid rising tensions. The Druze remain involved in negotiations regarding integration into Syria’s security framework.
A group of approximately 60 Syrian Druze clerics embarked on a significant pilgrimage to Israel on Friday, marking the first such visit since the establishment of Israel in 1948. They gathered near the village of Hader, situated within the demilitarized buffer zone of the Golan Heights, under the observation of recently stationed Israeli soldiers.
Upon their arrival, two buses awaited to transport them to visit the Tomb of Nabi Shuaib in the Galilee, a crucial site in the Druze faith. Additionally, the delegation is set to meet Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, the spiritual leader of the Druze community in Israel. Despite this historic occasion, the clerics were not authorized to communicate with journalists or carry mobile phones during their visit.
The pilgrimage follows an invitation from Israel’s Druze community. However, it has encountered resistance from some members of the Druze minority residing in Syria. The Druze practice a unique esoteric monotheistic faith and are dispersed across Syria, Israel, Lebanon, and the Golan Heights, comprising about three percent of Syria’s population, particularly concentrated in the southern province of Sweida.
In the context of recent tensions, Israel has mobilized troops into the Golan Heights, historically occupied since 1967 and annexed in 1981, following the ousting of long-time Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in December. Concurrently, Israeli Druze have provided food aid to their counterparts in Syria on two occasions, with the latest shipment arriving just days prior to the pilgrimage.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has issued warnings of military intervention in Syria subsequent to violent confrontations involving Druze fighters. However, Druze leaders in Syria have firmly rejected his threats, affirming their allegiance to a unified Syria. Historically, the Druze have largely abstained from engaging in Syria’s ongoing civil conflict, focusing instead on preserving their territorial integrity while avoiding mandatory military service.
The first pilgrimage of Syrian Druze clerics to Israel since 1948 marks a notable event amid ongoing tensions between the Druze community in Syria and Israel. While this visit signifies a potential strengthening of ties between the Druze in both countries, it also faces internal opposition within Syria. The Druze community remains committed to their identity and is actively engaged in dialogues regarding their future and security within Syria.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
