Druze on the Golan Stage Strike

Druze residents of the Golan Heights began a general strike yesterday to protest the arrests of Four Druze leaders accused of incitement against Israel. They are being held in administrative detention on orders signed Saturday by Defense Minister Ariel Sharon.

The four arrested are Kamal Kanj Abu Salah, a former member of the Syrian parliament; his cousin Sulieman Abu Salah; the latter’s son, Kanj, and Mahmoud Safadi. All are residents of Majdal Shams, the largest Druze village in the Golan Heights and leaders of the two major Druze clans in the region. They are Syrian citizens.

Kamal Kanj, sentenced to 23 years imprisonment in 1972 as a Syrian spy, was pardoned a year later in a prisoner exchange deal. He and Safadi were detained four months ago for organizing protests against the distribution of Israeli identity cards to Druze in the Golan Heights.

The strike, though called on short notice, was total yesterday. But several pro-Israel Druze reported for work today. Observers said it appears to herald the beginning of general civil disobedience by the vast majority of the Druze who oppose Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights last December 14. A spokesman for the small pro-Israel Druze faction, remarked yesterday that it was “very difficult to be a friend of Israel these days.”

The strike has further worsened relations between Jewish settlers on the Heights and the indigenous Druze population. A spokesman for the Settlers Association demanded a total boycott of Druze who oppose the government. He said they should be denied municipal services and not offered jobs in Jewish enterprises. Israeli security forces patrolled the Heights in force. While shops and schools remained closed, no disorderly incidents were reported.