Druze, Syria and Israel

Dozens of Syrian Druze make a rare visit to Israeli-controlled Golan Heights
Over half of the roughly 1 million Druze worldwide live in Syria. Most other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel and the Golan Heights, a rocky plateau seized from Syria by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war. Israel’s 1981 annexation of the area is recognized only by the United States, with the rest of the world considering it occupied Syrian territory.
Three buses carrying Druze from Syria cross into Israeli-controlled area of the Golan Heights
The visit comes as Israel says it is supporting the minority in a country now ruled by Islamists. But many Druze have rejected its overtures, and critics accuse Israel of trying to weaken and divide Syria following the overthrow of President Bashar Assad.
‘New chapter’: Syrian Druze clerics enter Israel for first pilgrimage since 1948
Israeli community, then visit tomb of Nabi Shuaib, the most important Druze religious site; other Syrian Druze strongly oppose trip
Syrian Druze cross armistice line for pilgrimage to Israel
Dozens of Syrian Druze clerics crossed the armistice line on the Golan Heights into Israel on Friday for their community's first pilgrimage to a revered shrine in decades.On board three buses escorted by Israeli military vehicles,
Group of senior Syrian Druze expected to visit Israeli-occupied Golan Heights
A group of around 100 senior figures from Syria's Druze are expected to visit the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Friday, members of the community said, in a further sign of Israel's support for the minority group.
Katz says Israel will soon allow Syrian Druze to work in the Golan Heights
Announcement comes as Israeli politicians lambast Syrian transitional government for reported mass killings, urge European states to 'wake up' and stop granting regime legitimacy
Syrian Druze allowed to enter Israel, work in Golan Heights, Katz confirms
The Syrian Druze were a minority in the Assad era who mostly kept to themselves, with some past positive history with Israel.
Israel says it will let Syrian Druze workers cross into Golan Heights
The Golan Heights is home to 24,000 Druze, an Arab minority who practice an offshoot of Islam and also live in Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.
Dozens of Syrian Druze make rare visit to Israeli-occupied Golan Heights
Dozens of clerics and others from Syria’s Druze minority crossed into the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Friday for the first time in decades.
Group of senior Syrian Druze expected to visit Golan Heights
Defense Minister Israel Katz said Druze from across the separation line would be allowed to enter the Golan Heights for work.
Israel sends aid to Druze in Syria, foreign ministry says
Israel has sent humanitarian aid to Druze communities in its neighbour Syria over the past few weeks, its foreign ministry said on Thursday, in a further sign of backing for the minority group.
Devdiscourse2h
Historic Druze Crossing: Bridging Borders and Faith
The Druze, a minority religious sect, crossed from Syria into Israeli-controlled Golan Heights for the first time in decades. This historic visit comes after the fall of Assad in Syria. While some ...
Syria’s interim president secures agreement with Druze and Kurds
Syria ’s interim president Ahmed Al-Sharaa reached an agreement on Tuesday with leaders of the minority Druze community to ...
The Times of Israel3d
Oft overlooked Druze see new NIS 3.9 billion plan as step to address old grievances
After a Haifa stabbing attack mislabeled as terrorism sent fear through the close-knit Druze community last week, Sunday's ...
Damascus may have hammered out deal with Druze in Suweida - analysis
The two groups that Israel sought to support in Syria, Kurds and Druze, are now moving closer to integration with the new ...