Amid Israeli interests in fostering a loyal Syrian Druze alliance, the Druze community grapples with autonomy and external threats. Historical resistance efforts are jeopardized by financial interventions aimed at creating divisions within the community. With rising tensions and calls for independence, prominent Druze leaders underscore unity against potential secessionist initiatives and emphasize their heritage within the broader Arab cultural framework.
The geopolitical landscape for the Druze community in Syria is fraught with complexities, particularly as Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, express intentions to cultivate a loyal Druze ally in southern Syria. This effort is partly driven by the need to maintain the loyalty of the Palestinian Druze, who are integral to Israeli border forces and hold what are termed “fake ‘Israeli’ citizenships” under the leadership of Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif, a prominent Druze figure who has cultivated significant relationships across Arab nations.
Recent disclosures surfaced regarding Bishop Moussa al-Hajj of the Maronite Patriarchate in Lebanon, arrested while allegedly transferring funds from Israel to Lebanon. He reportedly facilitated financial assistance for families of Lebanese collaborators entering Israeli-occupied territories, with further implications of funding Druze clerics in Lebanon by Sheikh Tarif to encourage a division within the Druze community that could undermine their historic resistance efforts led by figures such as Samir al-Kuntar, assassinated in 2015.
Historically, the Druze resisted self-rule during the French colonial era, hoping to emerge from control as seen during the 1925-1927 uprisings. Post-1967, Israel endeavored to instigate a rebellion among the Druze against the Syrian regime, as articulated by Labor Minister Yigal Allon’s correspondence to Prime Minister Levi Eshkol. This legacy of manipulation re-emerges against the backdrop of current fragmentation within Syrian governance, compelling the Druze once again to navigate a critical juncture for their community.
Concentrated in Sweida Governorate, the Druze now find their autonomy aspirations potentially compromised as Israeli influence expands in southern Syria amidst Assad’s governance challenges. Recent clashes in Jaramana between Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and local Druze factions spotlight tensions within the community, which has called for constitutional guarantees to govern their regions independently from HTS’s influence.
Tel Aviv and Washington demonstrate concerns about a unified Druze entity embracing a resistance ideology akin to that of martyr al-Kuntar, thus fearing potential economic and political ramifications stemming from the establishment of a Druze border crossing in Sweida to facilitate trade with Jordan. Observers note ambiguous Jordanian roles may hinder this initiative due to pressures from Israel.
The urgency for rapprochement is evident in Walid Jumblatt’s diplomatic engagements, including meetings with al-Julani, emphasizing the looming threat of Israeli state expansion that could create a contiguous Druze territory extending through crucial regions of Lebanon and southwest Syria. Concern for self-governing factions, such as the Men of Dignity and the Sweida Military Council, signals a fragmentation in control, yet the influence of pro-Israel factions remains persistent.
The Syrian Democratic Forces’ prior overtures towards Druze leadership indicate the shifting dynamics as the community grapples with calls for disarmament under government oversight. Jumblatt’s perceptions resonate widely among Druze religious leaders, who recently convened to address the dangers surrounding their community’s potential dissociation from Syria and the risks of international manipulation. He warned of the monumental consequences any Druze secessionist movement might incur, stressing that the broader community identity and historical legacy should be prioritized above all.
The plight of the Druze community in Syria underscores a complex interplay of regional politics, with both historical resistance and contemporary pressures shaping their autonomy aspirations. As external actors, particularly Israel, seek to exploit divisions within the community, the Druze leaders emphasize the necessity for unity and historical allegiance to the broader Arab identity. The future of the Druze hinges on careful navigation of these geopolitical dynamics, balancing autonomy with the risks of external manipulation that threaten their cultural and political integrity.
Original Source: www.tehrantimes.com
