(TPS) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent declaration southern Syria must remain demilitarized and its Druze communities be protected is a “significant shift,” experts and members of Israel’s Druze community told The Press Service of Israel.
Addressing a graduation ceremony for military cadet officers in Holon on Sunday, Netanyahu said, “We demand the full demilitarization of southern Syria, We will not tolerate any threat to the Druze community in southern Syria.”
Netanyahu insisted, “We will not allow the forces of HTS [Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham] or the new Syrian Army to enter the area south of Damascus.” Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham is the Turkish-backed Islamist group that toppled Bashar Assad’s regime and took power.
Netanyahu specified for demilitarization the Syria’s southern provinces of Quneitra, Daraa, and Suwayda.
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.
“The message is unmistakable: Israel is positioning itself as the protector of southern Syria, especially the local Druze population,” Dr. Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak told TPS-IL.
Yanarocak, a researcher at Tel Aviv’s Moshe Dayan Center, explained that Netanyahu’s comments represent Israel’s red lines.
“Following Assad’s downfall, Turkey has essentially become the new patron of Syria, taking on the role that Russia once played,” he told TPS-IL. “This move directly challenges Turkey’s influence, especially in light of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s recent assertion that Israel must withdraw from the occupied Golan Heights or face consequences.”
Yanarocak linked Israel’s decision to broader geopolitical changes, including shifts in Washington.
“When the [Israeli army] first entered the Syrian Golan, it was said to be temporary — initially for days, then weeks, then perhaps months. But based on Netanyahu’s speech, he now speaks of an indefinite presence. We are taking full advantage of having a strong ally in the White House and leveraging this support to establish facts on the ground that will enhance Israel’s security in the long run. This is not just another headline. It’s a strategic move that signals Israel’s intent to shape the future of its northern border.”
He also noted that Turkish media has been conspicuously silent about Netanyahu’s remarks.
“Not a single Turkish media outlet reported this statement,” Yanarocak said. “This suggests that Ankara may prefer to ignore it rather than respond and escalate tensions.”
Implications for the Druze
The declaration also carries profound implications for the Druze community in Syria and Israel.
Wael Mugrabi, the head of the Ein Qiniyye Local Council in the Golan Heights, welcomed the recognition of Druze concerns by the Prime Minister, but also raised critical questions about Israel’s broader policy towards its Druze citizens.
“On the one hand, it is significant that the Prime Minister of Israel acknowledges the Druze in Syria and pledges support,” Mugrabi told TPS-IL. “This aligns with our ancient historical bond, dating back to Jethro and Moses. Our brotherhood has existed for generations.”
However, he warned that such a public declaration could have unintended consequences. “This statement puts the Druze in Syria in a dangerous position. Extremist groups may see them as Israeli collaborators, which could lead to violent retaliation against them,” Mugrabi cautioned.
He also insisted that Netanyahu do more to help Israel’s Druze community. “We have fought and died for this country, yet we still face systemic discrimination. If Netanyahu truly values the Druze, he should start by ensuring equal rights for us at home,” he insisted.
Mugrabi proposed allowing Syrian Druze to work in the Golan Heights. “If Israel truly wants to help, it should grant work permits to Druze from Syria, allowing them to improve their economic situation while maintaining their safety.”
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.
