Behind the Headlines: Golan Druze Restless

Five years after Israel formally annexed the Golan Heights, the 12,000-strong Druze community there continues to resist the political reality that they are part of the Israeli state.

Initially, their resistance took the form of sullen refusal to accept Israeli identity cards. More recently there have been open demonstrations against Israeli rule.

Though overshadowed by the wave of violence that spread in the West Bank and Gaza Strip last week, an incident on February 14 underlined the seriousness of the situation there. An outburst of pro-Syrian emotions among the Golan Druze was triggered by the scheduled unveiling of a statue of Sultan El Atrash, the legendary leader of the Druze revolt against the French Mandate authorities in 1925.

It occurred in Majdal Shams, the largest Druze village on the Golan. Israeli police assembled at the village early in the morning, a Saturday, as a precaution against possible demonstrations. Druze youths did indeed demonstrate. Some throwing stones, others armed with chains and clubs, chanting anti-Israel and pro-Syrian slogans, they clashed with police.

Eight policemen were injured and at least 11 Druze were arrested. The demonstration coincided with the fifth anniversary of Israeli annexation.

ORIGINALLY WERE FRIENDLY

The situation is ironic. When Israel captured the Golan Heights in the 1967 Six-Day War, the Druze, alone among the populations of the occupied territories, proved friendly. Their four villages surrendered without bloodshed. Relations with the Israeli authorities developed the same patterns of friendship and cooperation which characterized Israel’s relations with the Druze minority within its own borders.

The Druze in Israel are considered the most loyal minority. Like all Israeli citizens, except Arabs, they do compulsory military service and have proven dependable and often heroic soldiers in Israel’s wars with its neighbors. There are 45,000 Israeli Druze in 18 villages.

Many hold senior positions in the border police. The declared policy of the government was to integrate the Druze as much as possible into Israeli society, though this policy often has not been implemented.

The Druze are fiercely independent. They broke away from Islam in the 11th century. Although they are considered to be ethnic Arabs, many regard themselves as a separate ethnic entity. They have their own spiritual leaders. And despite complaints of discrimination, most Israeli Druze identify with the State.

CAME TO ACCEPT ISRAEL

In contrast, the Golan Druze maintain loyalty to Syria, which they regard as the legitimate sovereign of the Golan Heights. Nevertheless, after the Six-Day War they seemed to accept that Israel was there to stay, pending an overall political settlement of the Israel-Arab conflict.

Many took jobs in Kiryat Shemona and other Jewish border towns. Their children studied Hebrew diligently and many entered Israeli universities. At the same time, the border with Syria remained relatively open. Golan Druze frequently visited their families on the Syrian side, many of whom hold senior positions in the Damascus establishment.

But peaceful coexistence changed in 1982 when the Likud government, with the backing of the Labor Alignment, annexed the Golan Heights, terminating military rule and subjecting the territory to Israeli civil law.

The Druze community balked at carrying Israeli ID cards. Rallying around their religious leaders, they staged a silent revolt. For five months they remained within the confines of their villages, refusing to present Israeli ID cards at police barriers.

The self-imposed confinement gradually ended. In June 1982, the Lebanon war shifted public attention away from the Golan Heights. More and more Druze reluctantly accepted Israeli ID cards. But the Heights became a center of political unrest.

Basically, the Golan Druze saw annexation as an attempt to enforce a new loyalty upon them. They refused to give up their loyalty to Syria, which they regard as their country, and because of family ties there.

WILL ISRAEL EVER LEAVE

Some Israelis believe the Druze loyalty to Syria is only an expedience. Frequent talk by various Israeli leaders of possible negotiations with Syria over the Golan has caused many Druze to wonder if the Israeli presence was indeed permanent. Israel’s return of the Sinai to Egypt in exchange for a peace treaty heightened those concerns.

The pro-Syrian demonstrations are seen in some Israeli quarters as a hedge against the possibility that the Golan, or part of it, may one day be returned to Syria. Israelis who insist that the Golan is an eternal part of Israel say that if Israel makes the Heights non-negotiable as it has East Jerusalem, the anti-Israel mood among the Druze will change.

Meanwhile, Druze Knesset member Zeidan Atashe of the opposition Shinui Party blamed the police presence for the violence at Majdal Shams.

Although the Heights are an integral part of Israel with a different legal status than the administered territories, the policy there remains the same as in the territories. Political demonstrations likely to incite the population are forbidden.