Syrian security forces begin deploying in Sweida province: ministry
'Internal security forces have begun deploying in Sweida province... with the aim of protecting civilians and putting an end to the chaos,' ministry spokesman Noureddine Al-Baba said in a statement on Telegram.
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Arab News
8 hours ago
- Arab News
The stark reality of how Israel treats its own Druze citizens
LONDON: Israel mounted a bombing campaign across Syria last week with the stated objective of protecting the Druze community of Sweida from attack by Bedouin fighters amid a recent upsurge in sectarian violence. Yet, this purported humanitarian intervention on behalf of a vulnerable religious minority has drawn attention to the disparity in Israel's treatment of its own Druze citizens, prompting accusations of double standards. For centuries, the Druze — an enigmatic religious community whose origins in the Levant date back to the 11th century — have guarded their beliefs and customs behind a veil of secrecy. Today, amid mounting regional upheaval and intensifying sectarian conflict, the fate of this small group — whose numbers are dwarfed by those of their neighbors — has become a critical test case for questions of loyalty, identity, and equal citizenship within modern nation states. Nowhere are these tensions more apparent than in Israel, where the Druze have forged a uniquely complex relationship with the Jewish majority, one marked by military partnership and shared sacrifice, yet also by persistent inequality and simmering frustration. As a result of their opposition to conversion and discouragement of intermarriage, the Druze community remained small in number and vulnerable, constantly maneuvering politically for their own survival among more powerful forces. Still, when push comes to shove, they can prove to be fearless warriors. The special relationship between the Jewish and Druze communities already existed in Mandatory Palestine. This relationship grew closer and stronger after Israel declared its independence, although it remains rather complex. One of the tenets of Druze philosophy — some might call it a survival mechanism — is loyalty to the state where they reside. In this sense, Israel is no exception. In 1956, at the request of the Druze community's leaders, Druze men became subject to the military draft upon turning 18, just like their Jewish compatriots. This created a covenant written in blood between the Jewish and Druze communities, with more than 430 having lost their lives serving in the Israeli security forces — a substantial number for a small community of 143,000, which is less than 1.6 percent of Israel's population. But despite this sacrifice and the generally positive perception of the Druze among Jewish Israelis — unlike attitudes toward other Arab communities — they are not spared discrimination. Consequently, there are forces among their youth who oppose continued military service. The recent wave of deadly sectarian clashes that rocked southern Syria exposed the country's fragility, as the new government proved either incapable or unwilling to impose law and order, leading to a failure to protect the Druze. The response by the Druze in Israel highlighted another strong tenet in the community's philosophy: mutual responsibility. In a Pew Research Center survey, nine in 10 said that they had a strong sense of belonging to the Druze community and were proud to be part of it. Roughly two-thirds expressed that they feel a special responsibility to care for Druze in need around the world. Over the last week, this manifested in community leaders exerting pressure on the Israeli government to intervene on behalf of the Druze in their clashes with Bedouin militias. Translating intentions into action, around 1,000 community members — including two members of the Knesset, Afef Abed and Hamad Amar from the right-wing parties Likud and Yisrael Beytenu, respectively — crossed the border from the Israeli-occupied side of the Golan Heights to support their brethren on the other side, expressing outrage over what they described as the massacre of their relatives in Suwaida. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Druze community in Israel and the Golan Heights in a video statement, urging them to show restraint and avoid crossing into Syria amid the ongoing clashes. Instead, Israel took the extreme measure of striking the Syrian Defense Ministry in Damascus and government forces in southern Syria, with Netanyahu announcing that Israel was 'working to save our Druze brothers.' Israel's immediate reaction to the fall of the Bashar Assad regime in December of last year was to 'temporarily' take over additional territory on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights — a move that increasingly looks permanent — and to carry out hundreds of airstrikes on military targets across Syria. With this in mind, Israel's use of force again last week raises questions about whether the strikes were solely in defense of the Druze or intended to send a broader message to the government of Ahmed Al-Sharaa about the power balance between the two countries. Another factor raises suspicion over Israel's purported commitment to the Druze in Syria. Despite the total loyalty of the Druze to the state of Israel, it does not appear that the Jewish state is equally loyal to them. For all their years of sacrifice and devotion, the Druze still do not enjoy the same equal rights as the Jewish population. Although attitudes toward the Druze in Israel may be more favorable than toward Palestinian citizens, they are still far from being treated as equals. Some researchers of the Druze community in Israel suggest that they represent something of an in-between group, comprising 'individuals who simultaneously belong to social categories that are often seen as mutually exclusive, while maintaining their distinct group identity.' The Druze are ethnically Arab and share that Arab identity with the Arab-Palestinian minority in Israel, but, at the same time, identify with the Jewish Israeli state. In recent years, there has been an awakening among young Druze that, despite their sacrifices, they are institutionally and socially discriminated against as individuals and as a community. In a protest last year, community leaders stated: 'The covenants of blood and life have become superficial and false slogans.' They demanded that budgets allocated to their towns and villages be equal to those of their Jewish neighbors. This discrimination is visible not only in the underinvestment in their communities, but also in the confiscation of their land for the Judaization of the Galilee and in house demolitions — not to mention having to contend with poor electricity networks, sewage systems, and roads. Many residents in the 16 Druze towns and villages of Israel find it almost impossible to obtain planning permission, leaving them under constant threat of demolition orders or hefty fines. A piece of legislation dating back to 2017, the Kaminitz Law, gives authorities the power to issue penalties — such as demolition and stop-work orders, the confiscation of building equipment and vehicles, and arrests — all without referring these cases to the judicial system. Generally, the law is seen as targeting Arab communities, where building permits are almost impossible to secure, resulting in illegal construction followed by fines and threats of demolition by the government, despite a growing population and need for additional accommodation. A request to put in place a 5-year plan to support local authorities of Druze communities has not been approved despite protests by community leaders. The final straw for many Druze in Israel was likely the 2018 Nation State Law, which made many feel that despite their loyalty and sacrifice for the country, they are not rewarded in kind. The law explicitly states that Jews have a unique right to national self-determination in Israel, and it relegated Arabic from being one of the two official languages, alongside Hebrew, to one with 'special status.' Describing Israel as 'the national home of the Jewish people' was effectively a way of defining everyone else as unequal in their political, human, and civil rights. Despite repeated promises from the Israeli government to promote a Basic Law for the Druze community, which aims to anchor the important status of the Druze community in Israel, this still has not happened. This has instilled among the community an oft-quoted sentiment: 'Druze enter the army as an Israeli and leave as an Arab.' For the Druze, there is a sense that the community has the rawest of deals — one in which they are loyal and prepared to sacrifice their lives for the country but are still treated as second-class citizens.
Al Arabiya
9 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Syria to sign 44 agreements worth nearly $6 billion with Saudi Arabia
Syrian Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa announced on Wednesday that Syria is set to sign 44 agreements with Saudi Arabia, with a total estimated value of around $6 billion. His remarks came during a press conference held on the sidelines of the Syrian-Saudi Investment Forum in Damascus. The event is being attended by a high-level Saudi business delegation. Al-Mustafa said the agreements signed at the forum are expected to create 50,000 jobs. Earlier on Wednesday, a senior Saudi delegation led by Investment Minister Khalid bin Abdulaziz al-Falih arrived in Damascus to take part in the Syrian-Saudi Investment Forum, which was launched under the direction of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as part of efforts to help Syria rebuild. According to the Syrian state news agency, the delegation includes over 130 Saudi businessmen and investors. The forum aims to explore joint cooperation opportunities and discuss the signing of strategic agreements that support sustainable development and strengthen mutual economic interests between Saudi Arabia and Syria – a move that could mark a significant turning point in their bilateral relations. Speaking to Al Arabiya, Saudi Investment Minister al-Falih said Riyadh sees long-term potential in Syria and is committed to investing through its capital and major companies. He described Syria's investment climate as 'very attractive' and emphasized the Kingdom's desire to play an active role in the country's reconstruction and development phase. Al-Falih added that some Saudi companies have already begun building factories inside Syria, and that a large number of new investment projects will be announced on Thursday, reflecting the Kingdom's commitment to supporting Syria's economic recovery. He highlighted Syria's human capital, natural resources, and strategic location, and noted that the Syrian government is increasingly relying on the private sector to drive reconstruction, opening up major opportunities for Saudi investors. Al-Falih also stressed that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is personally invested in supporting Syria's path to rebuilding and prosperity. This initiative, he said, is part of Saudi Arabia's broader vision to promote regional stability through economic cooperation and shared development.
Arab News
11 hours ago
- Arab News
Pakistan backs ‘inclusive' political process in Syria, ceasefire in Gaza at Security Council debate
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday backed an 'inclusive' political process to stabilize a Syria rocked by clashes and demanded an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, as he spoke at a United Nations Security Council debate on the evolving Middle East situation. Syria has been rocked by violent clashes between the Druze minority and Bedouin clans that broke out on July 13, killing over 250 people as per media reports and threatening to disrupt the country's post-war transition. The violence also displaced 128,571 people, according to the United Nations International Organization for Migration. Israel carried out a series of attacks on government targets in Syria in support of the Druze clan last week, including a strike on a tank convoy and the shelling of the Defense Ministry in Damascus. Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa ordered a fragile ceasefire between Bedouin and Druze groups last Saturday. Dar, who is in New York to participate in events being held under Pakistan's presidency of the UN Security Council, spoke at an open debate titled, 'The Situation in the Middle East and the Question of Palestine.' 'Pakistan supports the stabilization of Syria through an inclusive political process,' the deputy prime minister, who also serves as Pakistan's foreign minister, said. 'Syria's unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity must be upheld.' He called on Israel to immediately withdraw from the separation zone established under the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and vacate the Syrian Golan Heights as per the UN Security Council's resolutions. 'GRAVEYARD FOR INNOCENT LIVES' The Pakistani deputy prime minister criticized Israel for its military operations in Gaza, saying that the world was witnessing the 'collapse of humanity' through Tel Aviv's actions. 'Gaza has become a graveyard for innocent lives as well as for international law, particularly international humanitarian law,' he said, noting that over 58,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's war since October 2023. He urged the UN Security Council to pursue with unity and urgency an 'immediate, permanent, and unconditional ceasefire' in Gaza. Dar also called for unfettered, sustained and secure access to humanitarian relief items for all civilians and the protection of aid workers, medical teams and UN personnel there. 'Immediate steps should be taken to ensure the delivery of life-saving food and medical assistance, restore humanitarian supply lines, and prevent famine conditions from taking hold,' he said. Pakistan has consistently called for an independent Palestinian state in the Middle East with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital based on the pre-1967 border.
