How does the Golan Heights' Druze population factor into Israel's plans? | DW News

The fall of the Assad regime in Syria is being welcomed by many in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights — a border area where some Syrian families have lived separated from loved ones for years. Israel seized the region from Syria during the Six-Day War in 1967 and annexed it in 1981. However, the Golan Heights is considered to be occupied under international law. More than 20,000 Druze call the area home, residing primarily in four villages. The Druze are an ethno-religious Arab sect who mainly identify as Syrian while holding Israeli residence cards. Israel has approved plans to expand Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights while its military continues to operate in a demilitarized buffer zone separating Syria from the Israeli-occupied territory. So, how do the Druze factor into Israel's plans?

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[coppermouse]

Free Kurdistan from Turkey's occupation!

[SomeoneFromBeijing]

Northern Druzim don't reject Israeli sovereignty, they just don't openly accept it because it would put their relatives on the other side of the fence in danger. The Golan has been very peaceful, you can hardly find any news about inter-ethnic conflicts there. To the Druzim, living in Israel is better than living in a Sunni-majority country ruled by an ex-AQ man.

[phoneacian]

Turkey is occupying 9000 sq km of syrian land

[jon]

The reporter makes a very ignorant remark at 02:08. If each cousin is serving in the military of their respective country, they are military adversaries - there's nothing personal about it - referring to them as "sworn enemy" is pure journalistic hype. Furthermore, after claiming that the people of the 4 villages don't have Israeli citizenship, the reporter fails to explain why one cousin serves in the Israel military. he could also have given a little context by mentioning that the village he's in - Majdal Shams, is the village that recently lost 12 of its children to a roc ket fired by Hezbollah.

[CruiseDude]

1:17: "The majority of whom have a strong Syrian identity." That is untrue in that they just wanted to avoid being targeted by Assad. It's these same Druze leaders who want to become part of Israel, reuniting with their Druze brethren in Israel Golan, many of whom willingly serve in the IDF. Governed by Israelis or "former" Al Qaeda?

[niels-dr]

And if Germany really want to be at the good part of history. Watch what is happening towards the Kurds. If Europa in general want to regain some of their credibility. They should mean something for The Kurds in Syria. When Turkey and these terrorists attack them.

[stevinharper]

Why not show the video of some Druz asking Israel to take their area so they don't have to risk being attacked by HTS.

[jsphfalcon]

Israel and the Golan Heights situation have similarities to the Russian and Ukaine situation but the big difference is that Israel won the war Syria started. And in that war usually the victor takes the spoils and the people leave.

[SuperLuisferreira]

Interesting… you have a reporter on the ground, speaking wth locals. But you put a so called “expert”, in fact a syrian nationalist, to allegedly explain what the locals want… why didn’t you ask the people there?

[RS-]

Any country that have been attacked by neighbors multiple times would take precautionary measures to protect themselves. Golan Heights is overlooking Israel and would offer a great advantage to any invader. Israel after having won the war would obviously not let go of that location for their safety.

[stavkaz]

your expert has no idea what he is talking about, i'll be surprised if he ever actually talked to a druze in his life.
even if you keep telling a kit won't make it true, syria attacked israel, and only had sovrinety over the golan heights for 20 years

[lashlarue]

The Golan Heights are not "occupied"; they were conquered from an aggressor state who would have done worse had the turns tabled.

[MiladaKaiser]

Big difference.
Look at Germany - they started the war and they lost. And they had to pay reparation, 12 millions of Germans were relocated, border moved very much, Germany was devided into two.
It is different when you start the war and are defeated than when someone starts the war against you and you win.
Hamas started.
Hesbollah started,
Houthis are starting constantly…
They HAVE TO PAY THE REPARATION - with money and land
Just look at the history!

[David-mrwi]

The Druze in Golan heights want to be part of Israel. There are several videos of them saying this in a meeting.

[RS-uhrz]

Too bad DW didn't try to suss out the attitudes of people living in the affected region, rather than platforming one more anti-Israel "expert".

[barryobee]

I seen many videos where the Druze villagers want to be Israeli citizens!

[GG-unhj]

Free, Free Kurdistan
Free, Free Cyprus
Free, Free Israel
Free, Free Germany
Free, Free Europe
Free, Free USA

[AstuteRealm]

Remember that no one condemned this land grab. Why would anyone in the rest of the world respect international law today when it doesn't apply to everyone equally?

[Thaddeus]

500 years from now he will still be saying it is occupied territory 😅😅😅 get over it!

[Iseekthetruth]

FREE Kurds from Turkey aggression and occupation