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National Post

Avi Benlolo: The Israel-Druze alliance offers hope

Over the past few weeks, Israel has demonstrated a markedly proactive stance toward safeguarding the Druze — both within its borders and across Syria — signalling a dramatic evolution in its role from regional observer to protector of vulnerable communities. This shift is rooted not only in military necessity but in cultural kinship, moral clarity, and shared destiny with a people who have long sought stability amid the turbulence of the Middle East. Article content Article content When I met with the Druze spiritual leader in Majdal Shams, in northern Israel, just a few months before October 7, there was a sense of optimism in the air. He spoke with hope about the Abraham Accords and the expanding peace between Israel and its Arab neighbours. He envisioned a future where normalization might reach Syria and Lebanon. His village, he said, rejected Hezbollah and the chaos it brought to the border. 'We just want peace and a better life,' he told me. At the time, it felt within reach. Article content Article content But that vision was shattered on July 27, 2024, when a Hezbollah-fired rocket struck a football pitch in Majdal Shams. Thirteen Druze children were murdered — innocent lives lost in an act of calculated terror. The image of blood-soaked soccer balls and grieving families remains seared into memory. Article content Nearly one year later, just weeks ago, Druze civilians just across the border in Sweida, Syria, were massacred. ISIS-affiliated terrorists, pro-government militias, and Bedouin militias, attacked Druze neighbourhoods — killing hundreds, torching homes, raping women, and throwing people from balconies. Some were tortured before being executed, their moustaches shaved in grotesque echoes of Nazi cruelty. Over 1,300 have been killed in the fighting. The brutality echoed the horrors of October 7. Article content Article content Israel, in contrast, responded decisively. The Israeli Air Force launched strikes on Syrian military installations threatening Druze-populated regions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that Israel would not stand by while the Druze were slaughtered. Because of Israel's swift military, diplomatic, and humanitarian response, the massacre was stopped. Article content But where was the global outcry in support of the Druze? Where were the demonstrations in Paris, New York, and Toronto? Where were the Muslim communities and their allies condemning the Syrian regime and demanding the violence end? Where were the pro-Palestinian rallies, the academics, unions, and church groups who so easily condemn Israel — yet said nothing for the peace-loving Druze? When it comes to Israel, they become hateful, violent, and disruptive. They build encampments. But for the Druze? Silence. This is not concern for human rights — it is selective outrage rooted in antisemitism. Article content Even worse, many of these same voices defend or excuse the very Islamist radicals responsible for such horrors. This is an ideology that persecutes women, criminalizes homosexuality, suppresses minorities, and abolishes free speech. They do not uphold democracy or the freedoms we cherish in the West. Instead, they adhere to a violent, patriarchal ideology bent on subjugation. Israel stands in total contrast — a liberal democracy protecting women's rights, LGBTQ freedoms, religious pluralism, and the rule of law. So why do so many 'human rights' advocates attack Israel while defending its enemies? That hypocrisy was on display in Sweida — just as it was after October 7. Article content Meanwhile, Israel has delivered aid to Syrian Druze, facilitated religious pilgrimages, and amplified the voices of Druze leaders calling for justice. Israeli Druze citizens have mobilized in solidarity, offering shelter and support to displaced relatives. Religious leaders appealed to Israel — and Israel answered. Article content Article content The Druze have shown unwavering loyalty to Israel — serving among the IDF's fiercest and most honourable fighters. They are known as brave warriors who have defended the Jewish state with courage and pride. That bond demands a moral obligation. Across Israeli society, there is agreement: when the Druze call for help, Israel must respond. Article content