Pyotr Lukimson, Israel. Exclusively to VK
Hundreds of young Druze families living in Golan Heights requested for full Israeli citizenship, the Interior Ministry of Israel states. Several dozens of the Druze living in Syria sent requests on political asylum to the Interior Ministry of Israel.
Today more than 3 million Druze live in Syrian, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, and other countries. The ethnic group was formed about 1000 years ago being based on supporters of the mystic movement of the Shiah sect of Ismailits. At first they became a separate religion, and after prohibition of mixed marriages – a separate ethnic group. After Israel captured Golan Heights in 1967, the Druze who lived there rejected Israeli citizenship. They decided to remain citizens of Syria, and during decades they emphasized their loyalty to the country and connection with it. In the period of 1967-2011 only 300 Druze from Golan Heights (out of 20 thousand) requested Israeli citizenship.
Today they requested Israeli passports because they are threatened that after the collapse of Assad’s regime (who is kind to the Druze) repressions will be undertaken against 800 thousand Druze in Syria. That is why they also ask for political asylums in Israel.
The minister of internal affairs Eli Ishai promised that he will consider the requests from Syria and will probably satisfy some of them. His statement was heavily criticized by some Israeli politicians who think this step threatens Israel. They recalled that several months ago leaders of the International Circassian Union requested to the prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and asked for asylums for Syrian Adyg people in the Circassian residential areas of Israel. But he rejected the request. The same rejection should be made toward the Druze request, the politicians think – if Israel wants to maintain neutrality in the conflict over Syria and doesn’t want thousands of refugees on its streets. As for the Druze from Golan Heights, their requests will be satisfied.
