ANI
10 Mar 2025, 01:20 GMT+10
Tel Aviv [Israel], March 9 (ANI/TPS): Israel is preparing to 'soon' allow Syrian Druze to work in the Golan Heights, Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday.
'We will soon allow Druze workers from Syria to work in the Golan Heights communities in Israel,' Katz said. 'As Defense Minister, I salute them for their loyalty and heroism and their contribution to Israel's security in difficult and crucial times - we will continue to strengthen them and also protect their brothers in Syria against any threat.'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the demilitarization of southern Syria and protection for its Druze community on Feb. 23. An estimated 700,000-800,000 Druze live in Syria, mostly in southwestern areas near Israel and Jordan. They make up around four percent of the Syrian population. Analysts and Israeli Druze recently told TPS-IL that Netanyahu's remarks were a major shift in Israeli policy.
The Press Service of Israel's conversations with Druze residents of the Syrian town of Sweida revealed optimism about Netanyahu's pledge, as well as internal divisions.
The Druze of southern Syria are optimistic about a recent Israeli pledge to protect their communities, though The Press Service of Israel's conversations with residents of Sweida also reveal some internal divisions.
The Israeli government announced on Monday it was planning to adopt an unprecedented five-year 3.9 billion NIS (USD 1.08 billion) development plan for the Druze and Circassian communities to boost local economies, housing, and local planning.
Israel's Druze community of 152,000 trace their ancestry back to the Biblical figure Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses. Israeli Druze serve in senior positions in public and military life, and the bond between Jewish and Druze soldiers is referred to as the 'covenant of blood.' The Druze speak Arabic but are not Muslim and are very secretive about their religious beliefs.
The Druze living in the Galilee and Mount Carmel areas sided with the Jews in 1948 during Israel's War of Independence, opted to be part of Israeli society and established themselves in all areas of public life.
When Israel captured the Golan Heights during the Six-Day War of 1967, the Golan Druze refused Israeli offers of citizenship, believing Syria would recapture the plateau. But attitudes have changed since the Syrian Civil War broke out in 2011. (ANI/TPS)
Get a daily dose of Yorkshire Observer news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Yorkshire Observer.
More InformationFrom June 9–13, 2025, France and Costa Rica will co-host the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, bringing together...
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared a national emergency over the situation ...
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared a national emergency over the situation Israeli firefighters continue to battle wildfires...
Prof. Oliviero Diliberto, dean of the faculty of law at Sapienza University of Rome, speaks during an interview with Xinhua at his...
Kiev and Washington have signed a long-awaited deal to exploit Ukrainian natural resources US President Donald Trump has forced Kiev...
(250501) -- LAHORE, May 1, 2025 (Xinhua) -- A laborer works at a brick kiln in Lahore, Pakistan on May 1, 2025. (Photo by Sajjad/Xinhua)...
New Delhi [India], May 1 (ANI): The Indian senior men's national football team is set to play a FIFA international friendly against...
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], May 1 (ANI): Jamshedpur FC (JFC) made it to the final of the Kalinga Super Cup for the first time, after...
(250501) -- BARCELONA, May 1, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona celebrates a goal during the UEFA Champions League semifinal...
New Delhi [India] April 30 (ANI): The stage is set for an exciting semi-final showdown in the Kalinga Super Cup 2025, with four top...
New Delhi [India], April 30 (ANI): India's legendary opener Rohit Sharma, a modern-day colossus in white-ball cricket, turned 38 on...
LONDON, 29th April, 2025 (WAM)-- Arsenal have been beaten by Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions league semi-final....