Druze and Jews

Above: IDF soldiers hang Israeli and Druze flags in preparation for event that runs through their territories displaying their joint partnership

There are a lot of things Druze and Jews have in common. There are also a lot of things they don’t.

When it comes to similarities, Druze, like Jews, have historically been loyal to the nation where they live. Wherever Jews were exiled, they learned the local language and found ways to assimilate culturally into their new society—without losing their own identity or sense of community. Jewish rebellions were largely limited to empires that would try to impose foreign religions on them. The same goes for the Druze. Though Druze haven’t moved around quite as much as Jews have.

Over the thousand years of their existence, the various mountain tops where their communities were built have been ruled by a variety of foreign governments. As such the Druze have developed an approach that is both protective of their own while being cooperative with the ruling power of the day.

This means Druze in Syria will embrace their adopted country while Druze in Lebanon will be loyal members of Lebanese society and may even serve in places of authority. Likewise, Druze in Israel will often pick a career as a first responder or join the IDF to defend the nation they live in. Though in the Golan Heights, most Druze still feel closer to their relatives in Syria as their own villages were in Syrian territory before 1967. Eighty percent of Druze living in the Galilee area serve in the army—many in combat units. But Druze are most known for their legendary hospitality.

Especially in this current war, Druze are a wild card that can be triggered from within the multiple countries where they reside. As such we would do well to place the Druze people on our prayer radars—that the Lord will guide their steps as He can turn the hearts of Kings to do His will. You can read more about their background in the second article of this month’s Maoz Israel Report (The Mysterious Origin of the Druze).

Devoted to Their Own

Since their identity is not dependent on whether they have sovereignty over the land, ultimately, Druze prefer political neutrality. At their core, however, they will not hesitate to protect their own.

A powerful example of this occurred in 2022 with the tragic story of Tiran Fero. Tiran, a high-schooler who was two days short of his 18th birthday when he and his friend were in a serious car accident while driving to an auto repair shop near the Arab town of Jenin that is controlled by the Palestinian Authority.

Tiran’s friend was rushed to an Israeli hospital, but Tiran’s injuries were so serious he was taken to a nearby hospital in Jenin and put on life-support. When local Palestinian terrorists heard he was an Israeli Druze, they sent masked gunmen to kidnap him—while his father and uncle who had just arrived watched in horror. The terrorists disconnected Tiran from life support and took him to a remote location where he died. They then demanded the release of the bodies of Palestinian terrorists killed while committing various terrorist attacks against Israelis in exchange for Tiran’s body.

The reaction from the Druze was swift and fierce. Within hours Druze fighters kidnapped three random Palestinians they found at a construction site. They then filmed their beaten hostages and warned if Tiran’s body was not returned by the next day the Druze people would kill the hostages and enter Jenin armed to recover the body themselves. Tensions were high and Israeli authorities were in communication with Druze leaders and the Palestinian Authority. The IDF was quite content to cooperate in the background but not get directly involved as that would add the Jewish ingredient which could escalate the issue unnecessarily.

Sure enough, within 30 hours from the moment of kidnapping, Tiran’s body was back with his family. A public apology was issued by the Palestinian Authority’s head Imam and the beaten Palestinian construction workers were taken to be treated at an Israeli hospital. 

“We are like bees,” explained a young Druze to the news reporter inquiring about the Druze perspective. If you treat us well we give you honey. If you treat us poorly we will sting ferociously.”

Iron Dome

This war has put that truth to the test. Since October 7th Hamas has attacked anyone they came across in southern Israel—Jews, Druze, Muslims, Christians, Bedouins, etc. All during these 10 months, Hezbollah has been firing indiscriminately across Israel’s northern border. This past month alone Hezbollah fired thousands of rockets and suicide drones all across northern Israel. Sometimes hundreds in a single day.

Israel’s Iron Dome one of four defensive intelligent rocket systems, is the bane of Israel’s enemies. If not for Israel’s air defense system, large parts of our country would no longer be inhabitable. That makes discovering and firing on the many secret locations of the Iron Dome launchers one of Hezbollah’s most desirable accomplishments. Our daughter, who serves in the Airforce, is stationed near the northern border protecting those locations.

Still, the Iron Dome can only lessen the threat, not eliminate it. While the focus of this war has largely been on Gaza, since October 7th, Hezbollah has fired thousands of rockets at everything from Israeli towns and villages to highways and vineyards. Only in the complex and strange world of the Middle East, do thousands of rockets fired at a civilian population not necessarily mean automatic war.

War with Lebanon is not the same as war with Gaza. Gaza is a territory ruled by a terrorist organization. Lebanon is a sovereign country with an hostile government that somewhat keeps to itself but has a parasitical terrorist organization that operates within its borders. You can’t really go to war with Hezbollah in Lebanon without going to war with Lebanon.

Saturday Soccer Play

As we said though, to Hezbollah, all Israel qualifies as the enemy. And if you aren’t Jewish, well, your martyrdom for the cause is a price they are willing to have you pay.

As a rule of thumb, whether it’s Hezbollah or Hamas, they like to fire extra rockets and drones at us on the Sabbath, our day for rest and family time. But while Israelis further south are more cautious about outings, the Druze up north in the Golan Heights, tend to feel disconnected from the conflict and don’t usually run for shelter when they hear sirens. To them, they are clearly not Jews, and therefore pose no threat to nearby countries.

Notwithstanding, on Saturday July 28th a heavy price was exacted by Hezbollah when their missile hit a soccer field full of Druze children. Twelve kids between the ages of 10-16 were torn apart by the explosion while playing soccer. Another 39 were seriously wounded. The attack rippled through the Middle East. Thousands of Israeli Jews including Israel’s top government leaders traveled through dangerous highways to mourn with the Druze over the slaughter of their children, four of whom were from the same family. 

Still, the anger and pain of the Druze people had to be channeled somewhere. Some raged at Israel for failing to protect them. Others raged at Hezbollah for targeting their area. Perhaps the biggest surprise came from Druze in Syria who offered alliances from across the border to protect Israel and “viciously defend” their Druze brethren against attacks from Iran and its proxies like Hezbollah.

During seasons of pain, we all take moments to consider our understanding of life and all it entails. It is in those moments that we are most open to hear truth—if someone will speak it into our lives. Druze are truly one of the most unreached people-groups in the world and should be covered in prayer during our intercession before the Lord. We in the land of Israel who are acquainted with Druze understand that this precious peace-loving tiny community is in great need of knowing that there is a God who loves them and knows them by name.