druze loyalty to Israel
“From there we went to a Druze Village. It was amazing what a fierce loyalty the people have to Israel. I then walked through town & had many talks with the people most of whom and all the younger ones spoke Hebrew.
I was amazed however when in house after house a picture of Chief of Staff Moshe Dayan was in the wall along with their sons in Israel’s Armed Forces.”
August 8, 1957
David's Comments
The Druze of Israel
Ayoub Kara, former Druze member of the Knesset who opposed withdrawal from Gaza.
"I was amazed however when in house after house a picture of Chief of Staff Moshe Dayan was in the wall along with their sons in Israel’s Armed Forces.”
What was the Author's Impression of the Druze Community?
My father always had empathy for the Druze community of Israel, and this is already evident in this letter. He deeply appreciated the fact that Jews as well as non-Jews risked their lives on behalf of the State of Israel. Hundreds of Druze have died fighting for the IDF over the years. In fact, some Druze are more loyal to the State of Israel than many Jews.
Nationalist Druze Knesset Member
Decades after my father wrote this letter, he developed a strong relationship with Ayoob Kara, a Druze Knesset member of the Likud party. Similar to my father, Kara vehemently opposed Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and northern Samaria. He even created a group in the IDF called "Druze Don't Expel Jews". Since Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, thousands of rockets have been launched into Israeli cities. Considering the patriotism towards the State of Israel and their service in the army, my father never understood why the Druze did not receive more benefits than Arab Israeli citizens, some of whom are sworn enemies of the Jewish State
Who are the Druze?
The Israeli Druze are a religious and ethnic minority among non-Jewish residents living in Israel. They do not identify themselves as Muslims. In 2019, there were 143,000 Druze living in Israel, 1.6% of the population of the country. The Druze faith was founded in 11th Century Egypt and today its people are scattered mostly around Israel, Syria, and Lebanon. The Druze believe their faith to be an interpretation of the three main monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. They consider themselves to be descendants of Jethro.
Supporting Druze Soldiers and Police
Following the murder of Colonel Dror Weinberg by Arab terrorists in Hebron in 2002, two Druze border police assisted in capturing the terrorist. My father helped pay the soldier's legal expenses, just as he would have done for a Jewish soldier in the same situation. In 2014, Arab terrorists entered a synagogue in Har Nof, Jerusalem, and started murdering Jews in the middle of their morning prayers. Druze policeman Zidan Tzayif raced to the scene and shot the terrorist, but was killed himself in the process. I have kept in touch with Nazal Tzayif, the brother of Zidan. Nazal served as a security guard in the town where I live and I helped support his family.
Complexities of Druze Loyalty
The Druze religion dictates that they be loyal to the government of the country in which they live. While they continue to serve in the IDF, Druze loyalty to Israel has become increasingly complex with changing times. Before 1967, the Golan Heights were in the hands of Syria, and the Golan Druze continued their allegiance to Syria. This put other Druze living in the pre-1967 areas of Israel in an awkward position. When Israel fought Lebanon, the Lebanese Druze, loyal to Lebanon, fought the IDF, pitting Lebanese Druze against Israeli Druze.
1957 vs today
In 1957, the Israeli government designated the Druze a distinct ethnic community at the request of its communal leaders. This displayed their consistent loyalty to the young Jewish State, including risking their lives fighting against Egypt in the Sinai Campaign in 1956.
Today, While they continue to serve in the IDF, the Druze loyalty to Israel has become more complex. Before 1967, the Golan Heights was in the hands of Syria, and the Golan Druze were loyal to Syria and Assad. When Israel regained the Golan Heights, many Golan Druze continued their allegiance to Syria. This put other Druze living in pre-1967 areas of Israel (the Galilee, Carmel) in an awkward position. When Israel fought in Lebanon, the Lebanese Druze, loyal to Lebanon, fought the IDF, pitting Lebanese Druze vs. Israeli Druze.
LINKS:
Video of Druze policeman, Zayid Sarif, killed in the Har Nof Synagague Massacre: https://youtu.be/LQrjHMUeVWA
The Druze in the IDF: https://youtu.be/3Cm15cK-G3o
Druze Fallen Soldiers: https://youtu.be/tvizRRxMnqg
History of the Druze: https://youtu.be/OmD1G9BnhkA