Syria, Israel and the Druze Community: unprecedented shifts in the region

Majdal Shams is the largest town in the Golan Heights, a region that was part of Syria until Israel captured it during the Six-Day War in 1967 and later annexed it in 1981. The entire population of Majdal Shams is Druze, and for decades, its residents have lived in a unique and complex reality, with all the adult population being born in Syria and most of the citizens with a big part of their families still living in Syria.

Today, with mass murders happening right on the other side of the border committed by HTS terrorists, Majdal Shams and more broadly the Golan Heights represent a key area for the security of the Syrian Druze community.

Druze in the town of Majdal Shams. Photo credit: REUTERS/Ammar Awad

A divided identity

Unlike other Druze communities in the Israeli region of the Galilee, which are largely integrated into the state and serve in the military, the approximately 25.000 Druze living in the Golan Heights have historically rejected Israeli citizenship, maintaining a strong connection to their Syrian identity. Many hold Israeli residency status rather than full citizenship, fearing repercussions from the Syrian government.

However, in recent years, a growing number of young Druze in Israel have opted for Israeli citizenship. Influenced by economic opportunities, Syria’s ongoing civil war, and a generational shift in identity, they see Israel as a more stable future. Despite this, tensions persist, particularly regarding national identity.

But who are the Druze?

The Druze are an ethnoreligious group whose faith is closed to outsiders - one can only be born into the community, and conversion is not permitted. Their beliefs are secretive, known only to initiated members, and they emphasize loyalty to both their community and the country they reside in.

Because of their distinct religious practices, they have been branded as traitors by extremist groups that see them as not accepting Islam. This has historically made them vulnerable to persecution, especially in times of political upheaval.

The current situation in Syria and the role of Israel

The conflict in Syria took a dramatic turn in December 2024, when rebel forces clashed with Assad’s troops, leading to the regime’s fall. Following this power vacuum, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the leader of the jihadist group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and an Al-Qaeda affiliate, declared himself Syria’s new ruler under the guise of creating a "free Syria."

Despite presenting himself to the West in designer suits and using sophisticated propaganda, al-Jolani's leadership has been anything but democratic. His forces have recently begun targeting religious minorities - including Christians, Druze, and Alawites - justifying their attacks as "revenge" against Assad loyalists. In reality, these communities are being persecuted simply because they do not adhere to the jihadists’ strict interpretation of Islam.

Reports from within Syria describe mass executions, public humiliations, and mass graves. Women face the threat of enslavement and being sold on the black market. In response, many Syrian Druze, Alawites, and Christians are now calling on Israel for support in resisting HTS.

Israel’s response

Israel has publicly committed to providing military support to Syria’s Druze population in the event of further jihadist attacks. Additionally, in an unprecedented move, Israel announced that it will grant work visas to Syrian Druze citizens, making it the first country in the world to extend such a policy to citizens of an enemy state.

This initiative not only offers economic relief to Syrian Druze, who are suffering from the country’s dire financial crisis, but also strengthens the connection between the Druze community in Israel and their relatives in Syria. The Israeli government sees this as a strategic move - both as a humanitarian gesture and as a means to foster stability in the Golan Heights. By providing employment opportunities, Israel may also be encouraging more young Druze in the Golan to consider full integration into Israeli society.