Apples and Brides

Druze, practicing a religion that emerged from Shia Islam during the 11th century, are usually known for their loyalty to any regime that rules their territories, mainly in Syria, Lebanon and Israel. Druze in the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau occupied by Israel from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War, are in an identity limbo. They constantly refuse to bear Israeli citizenship, although the Golan was officially annexed to Israel in 1981. They publicly declare their loyalty to Syria, an arch-foe of Israel, and maintain vast civil relations with homeland Syria. Such relations include youth leaving for Syria to acquire high education, brides going on cross-border marriages, and a wide export of apples via Syria to the Arab world. They usually stay nonviolent in their resistance to Israel and keep an open channel with Israeli society. Until now, Druze in the Golan spoke in a unified manner in favor of the Assad regime, both of the late Hafez and his currently-ruling son Bashar. On background of the civil war in Syria (2011-2012), Druze of the Golan have been divided into two groups, supporting either the Assad regime or the rebellion against it. Roughly, there is a majority of young generation amongst those who now oppose Assad, and a seemingly majority of elderly, religious leaders who stay loyal to the old regime. There have been recent reports on two Druze men who illegally crossed into Syria in order to join Assad's forces against the rebellion. An intense internal debate, getting violent at times, is taking place on how they should proceed from here on.