The leader of the 9000-strong Druze community on the Golan Heights urged Israel yesterday to annex that former Syrian territory as a means of ending subversion and because, after living under Israeli rule more than five years, “we can frankly say that we enjoy equality and democratic rights.”
Sheikh Suleiman Abu Salon Kanj coupled his call for annexation with a plea for amnesty for Golan Druze who have been imprisoned for subversive activities. They include his cousin, Kamal Kanj who was recently sentenced to 23 years’ imprisonment for spying for Syria.
Sheikh Suleiman stated “We believe Israel is strong enough for a generous gesture of this kind.” He said all espionage and sabotage activities in the Golan Heights were instigated from the Syrian side of the border with the intention of undermining relations between the Druze and Israel. He said that if Israel annexed the Golan Heights the Druze would know where they stand and would eliminate all subversive activities.
The Sheikh spoke at a Druze festival at Hittin village near Tiberias, gravesite of the Druze patron saint, Nebi Shueib (Jethro), the father-in-law of Moses. The guest of honor was Israel’s, Finance Minister Pinhas Sapir who has spoken out twice this week against the annexation by Israel of any substantial portions of the Arab territories it now administers.
SAPIR AGAIN REJECTS ANNEXATION
One Druze leader in fact had advised Sapir not to attend because of his strong opposition to the annexationist Greater Israel Movement which the Golan Druze support. But Sapir received a warm welcome nonetheless and spoke of the integration of the Druze, a non-Arab Moslem sect, within Israeli society.
Addressing members of “Etgar,” an ideological circle within the Labor Party in Tel Aviv last night, Sapir repeated a warning he delivered during a radio interview Monday–that annexation of the administered territories would eventually destroy the Jewish character of Israel.
He said that annexation would mean that “in 25 years Israel would no longer have a Jewish majority.” He insisted that only security considerations should determine Israel’s permanent borders. He said that no territory can be returned to the Arabs before there is a peace treaty. But he assailed elements in Israel who advocate total annexation on religious or mystical grounds.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
