Islamist Terrorists Threatening The Druze

Beyond a doubt, it is interesting that the only Jewish state in the world, which is accused by its detractors of practising apartheid, is prepared to defend not only its citizens who are non-Jews, but at the insistence of those non-Jewish citizens, distant relatives living in another country entirely, from the viciously malign assaults of Islamist predators.

"I expect Israel to assist the Druze, just like it helps Jews all over the world", stated Ayoub Kara, an Israeli citizen, a member of the Knesset from within the Likud party who leads a campaign to convince Israel to become involved in aiding threatened Syrian Druze, in a proposed intervention which he describes as "major humanitarian aid".

Israel's Druze citizens have been fully involved in defending Israel. They serve in the army proudly and with distinction, accepting it as their duty as citizens of the country, in contrast to most Arab citizens of the Jewish state. Druze hold senior government positions. And Druze living in the Golan are supportive of Israel's authority. 

A member of the Druze community holds a Druze flag as he speaks to an Israeli soldier near the border fence between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, near Majdal Shams June 18, 2015.   Reuters/Baz Ratner

Islamist jihadists are threatening Israel's Golan Heights border with Syria. And the Druze population there are in the direct line of fire in the sense that Islamic State terrorists have made minority ethnic and religious groups a target of cleansing; raping and enslaving women and children, slaughtering men in their sweep to amass larger Iraqi and Syrian territory for absorption into their Islamist 'pure' Sharia "caliphate".

In 'apartheid' Israel, citizens of the country who are Druze demand aid for their co-religionists. A group from the al-Qaida-affiliated Nusra Front created a bloodbath in a recent attack on a Druze village. In launching an offensive against the Syrian regime's positions close to the Golan Heights, Syrian rebels surrounded the Druze village of Khadr.

The Southern Front alliance rebels together with the Haramoun Army targeted towns and villages in the Golan that are Druze communities. The Haramoun Army includes the ultraconservative Ahrar al-Sham as well as the al-Qaeda Syrian affiliate. It shelled the area encompassing those villages while Southern Front fighters advanced the battle on the ground.

The IDF may be preparing for the establishment of a "safe zone" for Syrian Druze on the Golan northern Israel frontier, according to security officials. The Prime Minister informed parliament his government is "closely following all developments on our borders", and that "my inclination is to take any action that is necessary."

Though officially neutral in the civil war that has engulfed Syria, should Israel respond to the plight facing the Druze, Israel could see itself flooded with a stream of refugees seeking safe haven.

An offshoot of Shiite Islam, About 700,000 Druze live in Syria. Smaller communities in Israel and the Israeli-held Golan heights have become integrally involved in Israeli politics, social life and the military. Family ties across borders represent another dimension. Protests were staged by thousands of Israeli Druze to demand that Israel give assistance to the Syrian Druze through military action, or humanitarian aid or the establishment of a safe zone.

"I'm pretty sure the government is looking into ways to get weapons to the Druze, if they're not already doing so", stated Moshe Maoz, professor emeritus of Middle East Studies, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. MK Kara visited Jordan for assurance from Jordanian officials that safe passage would be provided to the Druze.

A member of the Druze community uses binoculars to watch the fighting in Syria, from the Israeli side of the border fence between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, near Majdal Shams June 18, 2015.  Reuters/Baz Ratner