The images and videos sent from Sweida to Druze in Israel left no doubt: an outpouring of rage and solidarity was inevitable, and would be difficult to contain. A video showing a member of the Islamic State (ISIS), affiliated with the Al-Sharaa family, kicking a religious turban – a sacred symbol for the Druze – and trampling it, or another showing a terrorist shaving the beard of a well-known Druze religious leader, were enough to spur thousands of young Druze from the Galilee and the Carmel to rattle the border fence and cross deep into Syrian territory to stand by their brethren.
This act touched on one of the three core tenets of the Druze faith: belief in God, protect your brother, and guard your tongue. It was, in essence, the ignition of a kind of holy war by the Druze against those who seek to wipe them out.
For years, Druze in Syria suffered under the Assad regime, which forced them to conceal their religious identity. Many in the community were married off to Alawites or Sunnis. Paradoxically, Assad's downfall signaled a new chapter in reaffirming Druze identity.
The recent events delivered a resounding slap in the face to anyone who believed that Al-Sharaa in a suit and tie would be any different from Al-Sharaa with a beard and jihadist ideology. The footage I watched evoked Nazi-era hallmarks of humiliation and suppression – only this time, it was the Druze, not Jews, facing such cruelty in full view of the world.
The Israeli public must not be misled. Although this may look like frustration over Israel's sluggish and indifferent conduct in Syria, it is not in any way a breach of the Druze community's unwavering loyalty to the State of Israel. There is, however, frustration over a government that limited itself to statements. The recent Druze uprising served as a stark reminder to the Israeli government that this is a proud community that will not relent until peace and dignity are restored to the Druze in Syria.
Personally, I opposed the drastic move by young Druze to cross the border. Sadly, it could have led to disaster – kidnapping or murder. As much as I understand the sincere motives rooted in deep solidarity with their Syrian kin, the act harmed the cause by diverting attention from the jihadist campaign of annihilation against the Druze to the act of crossing the border itself.
This day will be remembered as a turning point for the Druze in the Middle East. This is not about land disputes or the Nation-State Law, but a genuine struggle for the survival of a community that has endured years of persecution.
