Syrian Druze clerics make their first pilgrimage to 'Israel'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
14 Mar 2025 13:56

Around 60 clerics gathered near the village of Hader, located in the demilitarized buffer zone of the occupied Golan Heights in Syria, under the watch of Israeli soldiers who had recently occupied the area.

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Druze wait for buses carrying members of the Syrian Druze community to cross from Syria in the village of Majdal Shams, in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP)

A delegation of Syrian Druze clerics traveled to "Israel" on Friday, marking the first pilgrimage of its kind since the Israeli occupation of Palestine in 1948.

Around 60 clerics gathered near the village of Hader, located in the demilitarized buffer zone of the occupied Golan Heights in Syria, under the watch of Israeli soldiers who had recently occupied the area. Two buses awaited the delegation on the Israeli side, where, according to a source close to the group, they planned to visit the Tomb of Nabi Shuaib in al-Jalil. They were also scheduled to meet Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, the spiritual leader of the Druze community in "Israel".

Dozens of Druze clerics from Syria enter Israel on a “religious visit” to the tomb of the Prophet Shu'ayb in Lower Galilee.

Ironically, they sang a song with the same rhyme as Tala‘a Al-Badru ‘Alayna, the hymn the people of Medina sang to welcome Prophet Muhammad upon his… pic.twitter.com/RSqTEUHTyT
— OSINTWarfare (@OSINTWarfare) March 14, 2025

The pilgrims were not permitted to speak to the media or bring their mobile phones, another source close to the clerics revealed.

The visit, following an invitation from the Druze community in occupied Palestine, has sparked opposition among some members of Syria's Druze community.

The wider context

The Druze, followers of an esoteric monotheistic faith, are spread across Syria, occupied Palestine, Lebanon, and the occupied Golan Heights. They make up around three percent of Syria's population, with a significant concentration in the southern province of Suweida.

After the removal of long-time Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December, "Israel" occupied the whole Golan Heights.

After "Israel" occupied #Syria's Mount Hermon, describing it as "temporary", Israeli Security Minister Israel Katz said, “The [IOF] will remain at the summit of the Hermon and the security zone indefinitely to ensure the security of the [settler] communities of the Golan Heights… pic.twitter.com/ykOVDC9wgO
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) January 28, 2025

In early March, following a deadly clash between government-linked forces and Druze militants near Damascus, Israeli Security Minister Israel Katz threatened military action in Syria, stating, "We will not allow Syria's new rulers to harm the Druze."

However, Druze leaders rejected Katz's warning, reaffirming their loyalty to a unified Syria.

Currently, Druze representatives are negotiating with Syria's new leaders for a deal that would integrate their armed groups into the country's security forces.