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The '''Israeli Druze''' are a religious minority in [[Israel]]. In 2004, there were 102,000 [[Druze]] living in the country.<ref name="idr">''Identity Repertoires among Arabs in Israel'', Muhammad Amara and Izhak Schnell; ''Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies'', Vol. 30, 2004</ref> In 1957, the Israeli government designated the Druze a distinct ethnic community at the request of its communal leaders. The Druze are [[Arabic]]-speaking citizens of Israel who serve in the [[Israel Defense Forces]]. Members of the community have attained top positions in Israeli politics and public service. <ref name="theisraelproject1">[http://www.theisraelproject.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=ewJXKcOUJlIaG&b=7721235&ct=11546191#.TvwjLdXLa0M Religious Freedoms: Druze]. Theisraelproject.org. Retrieved on 2012-01-23.</ref> Most Druze dissociate themselves from [[Arab nationalism]]. <ref>[http://www.jcpa.org/jl/hit06.htm The Druze Minority in Israel in the Mid-1990s by Gabriel Ben-Dor]. Jcpa.org (1995-06-01). Retrieved on 2012-01-23.</ref> They live mainly in the north of the country.<ref>[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Society_&_Culture/druze.html The Druze]. Jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved on 2012-01-23.</ref>
The '''Israeli Druze''' are a religious minority in [[Israel]]. In 2004, there were 102,000 [[Druze]] living in the country.<ref name="idr">''Identity Repertoires among Arabs in Israel'', Muhammad Amara and Izhak Schnell; ''Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies'', Vol. 30, 2004</ref> In 1957, the Israeli government designated the Druze a distinct ethnic community at the request of its communal leaders. The Druze are [[Arabic]]-speaking citizens of Israel who serve in the [[Israel Defense Forces]]. Members of the community have attained top positions in Israeli politics and public service. <ref name="theisraelproject1">[http://www.theisraelproject.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=ewJXKcOUJlIaG&b=7721235&ct=11546191#.TvwjLdXLa0M Religious Freedoms: Druze]. Theisraelproject.org. Retrieved on 2012-01-23.</ref> Most Druze dissociate themselves from [[Arab nationalism]]. <ref>[http://www.jcpa.org/jl/hit06.htm The Druze Minority in Israel in the Mid-1990s by Gabriel Ben-Dor]. Jcpa.org (1995-06-01). Retrieved on 2012-01-23.</ref> Before the establishment of the State of Israel, the community suffered from persecution by [[Arab nationalists]]. <ref>[http://www.myjewishlearning.com/israel/Contemporary_Life/Society_and_Religious_Issues/Arab-Israelis/druze.shtml Druze in Israel]. My Jewish Learning. Retrieved on 2012-01-23.</ref> They live mainly in the north of the country.<ref>[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Society_&_Culture/druze.html The Druze]. Jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved on 2012-01-23.</ref>


==History==
==History==

Revision as of 16:16, 29 October 2012

Israeli Druze
Notable Druze Israelis:
Amin Tarif  • Reda Mansour  • Muwaffak Tarīf  • Assad Assad  • Azzam Azzam  • Amal Nasser el-Din  • Ayoob Kara  • Majdi Halabi  • Majalli Wahabi
Total population
102,000 (2004)[1]
Regions with significant populations
 Israel
Languages
Arabic and Hebrew
Religion
Druze

The Israeli Druze are a religious minority in Israel. In 2004, there were 102,000 Druze living in the country.[1] In 1957, the Israeli government designated the Druze a distinct ethnic community at the request of its communal leaders. The Druze are Arabic-speaking citizens of Israel who serve in the Israel Defense Forces. Members of the community have attained top positions in Israeli politics and public service. [2] Most Druze dissociate themselves from Arab nationalism. [3] Before the establishment of the State of Israel, the community suffered from persecution by Arab nationalists. [4] They live mainly in the north of the country.[5]

History

The Druze ([درزي, derzī or durzī] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: text has italic markup (help), plural دروز, durūz, Hebrew: דרוזים druzim) are an esoteric monotheistic religious community found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan. The religion incorporates elements of Ismailism, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism and other philosophies. The Druze call themselves Ahl al-Tawhid "People of Unitarianism or Monotheism" or al-Muwaḥḥidūn "Unitarians, Monotheists." Sheikh Amin Tarif was the preeminent religious leader of the community until his death in 1993. [6]

Sheikh Muwaffak Tarīf (موفق طريف) is the current spiritual leader.

In January 2004, Sheikh Mowafak Tarif called on all non-Jews in Israel to observe the Seven Noahide Laws as laid down in the Bible and expounded upon in Jewish tradition. The mayor of the Galilean city of Shefa-'Amr also signed the document.[7] The declaration includes the commitment to make a "...better humane world based on the Seven Noahide Commandments and the values they represent commanded by the Creator to all mankind through Moses on Mount Sinai."[7]

Self Identification of young Druze, 2008
Druze Israelis
 
 94%
Other
 
 6%

Military service and public office

See also: List of Arab members of the Knesset

Druze citizens are prominent in the Israel Defense Forces and in politics. The bond between Jewish and Druze soldiers is commonly known by the term "a covenant of blood" (Hebrew: ברית דמים, brit damim). [8]

Five Druze lawmakers were elected to serve in the 18th Knesset, a disproportionately large number considering their population.[9] Reda Mansour a Druze poet, historian and diplomat, explained: “We are the only non-Jewish minority that is drafted into the military, and we have an even higher percentage in the combat units and as officers than the Jewish members themselves. So we are considered a very nationalistic, patriotic community.”[10]

In 1973, Amel Nasser A-Din founded the Zionist Druze Circle,[11][12] a group whose aim was to encourage the Druze to support the state of Israel fully and unreservedly.[13]

Druze commander of the IDF Herev battalion
File:MUGLI.JPG
Majalli Wahabi was the acting President of Israel in February 2007.

In 2007, Nabiah A-Din, mayor of Kasra Adia, rejected the "multi-cultural" Israeli constitution proposed by the Israeli Arab organization Adalah: "The state of Israel is Jewish state as well as a democratic state that espouses equality and elections. We invalidate and reject everything that the Adalah organization is requesting," he said. According to A-din, the fate of Druze and Circassians in Israel is intertwined with that of the state. "This is a blood pact, and a pact of the living. We are unwilling to support a substantial alteration to the nature of this state, to which we tied our destinies prior to its establishment," he said.[14] As of 2005 there were 7,000 registered members in the Druze Zionist movement.[15] In 2009, the movement held a Druze Zionist youth conference with 1,700 participants.[16]

In a survey conducted in 2008, Yussuf Hassan of the Tel Aviv University found that more than 94% of Druze youngsters classified themselves as "Druze-Israelis" in the religious and national context.

On 30 June 2011, Haaretz reported that a growing number of Israeli Druze were joining elite units of the military, leaving the official Druze battalion, Herev, understaffed. This trend has led to calls for its disbandment.[17]

Religion

Druze Scouts march to Jethro's tomb.
File:Prophet Jethro shrine.jpg
Prophet Jethro shrine

Amin Tarif was the qadi, or spiritual leader, of the Druze in Palestine and Israel from 1928 until his death in 1993. He was highly esteemed and regarded by many within the community as the preeminent spiritual authority in the Druze world.[18]

The Druze revere the father-in-law of Moses, Jethro, whom some Muslims identify with Shuʻayb. According to the biblical narrative, Jethro joined and assisted the Israelites in the desert during the Exodus, accepted monotheism, but ultimately rejoined his own people. The tomb of Jethro near Tiberias is the most important religious site for the Druze community.[7]

Druze of the Golan Heights

There are four Druze villages on the Golan Heights. In the late 1970s, the Israeli government offered all non-Israelis living in the Golan citizenship, which would entitle them to an Israeli driver's license and enable them to travel freely in Israel. Less than 10% have accepted Israeli citizenship and continue to regard themselves as Syrian citizens. [19] Those who apply for Israeli citizenship are entitled to vote, run for Knesset and receive an Israeli passport. For foreign travel, non-citizens are issued a laissez passer-by the Israeli authorities. As Israel does not recognize their Syrian citizenship, they are defined in Israeli records as "residents of the Golan Heights." Residents of Majdal Shams are not drafted by the Israel Defense Forces. [2]

In the 2009 elections, 1,193 residents of Ghajar and 809 residents of the Druze villages were eligible voters, out of approximately 1,200 Ghajar residents and 12,600 Druze village residents who were of voting age.[20] During the 2011 Syrian uprising, several rallies of Golan Heights Druzes were held in support of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.[21]

Druze localities

IDF soldiers memorial, Daliyat Al-Karmel
Druze man in traditional dress, Peki'in

(Population figures and percentage of overall population):

In the Golan Heights:


Notable Israeli Druze

Main article: List of Israeli Druze

References

  1. ^ a b Identity Repertoires among Arabs in Israel, Muhammad Amara and Izhak Schnell; Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, Vol. 30, 2004
  2. ^ a b Religious Freedoms: Druze. Theisraelproject.org. Retrieved on 2012-01-23.
  3. ^ The Druze Minority in Israel in the Mid-1990s by Gabriel Ben-Dor. Jcpa.org (1995-06-01). Retrieved on 2012-01-23.
  4. ^ Druze in Israel. My Jewish Learning. Retrieved on 2012-01-23.
  5. ^ The Druze. Jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved on 2012-01-23.
  6. ^ Pace, Eric (1993-10-05). "Sheik Amin Tarif, Arab Druse Leader In Israel, Dies at 95". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
  7. ^ a b c "Islam Religious Leader Commits to Noahide "Seven Laws of Noah"". Institute of Noahide Code. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
  8. ^ Firro, Kais (2006-08-15). "Druze Herev Battalion Fights 32 Days With No Casualties". Israel National News.
  9. ^ Stern, Yoav. (2011-08-03) Elections 2009 / Druze likely to comprise 5% of next Knesset, despite small population. Haaretz.com. Retrieved on 2012-01-23.
  10. ^ Christensen, John (Saturday, November 15, 2008). "Consul General is an Arab Who Represents Israel Well". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 27 June 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ The Druzes in the Jewish state: a brief history By Kais Firro, page 210
  12. ^ Minorities in the Middle East: a history of struggle and self-expression. By Mordechai Nisan. McFarland, 2002 p. 109
  13. ^ The Arab minority in Israel, 1967–1991: political aspects By Jacob M. Landau. p. 46
  14. ^ Stern, Yoav. "Druze, Circassian forum: Israel should remain a Jewish state". Ha'aretz. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  15. ^ הרצל והתקווה בחגיגות 30 לתנועה הדרוזית הציונית (in Hebrew), by Eli Ashkenazi, Haaretz. Nov. 3, 2005
  16. ^ "הציונות הדרוזית היא אהבת מדינת ישראל והתרומה למדינת ישראל" (in Hebrew), Radio Haifa, 09/12/2009, by Samar Odeh
  17. ^ Pfeffer, Anshel. (2011-08-03) As more young Druze opt for elite units, IDF fears for future of battalion. Haaretz.com. Retrieved on 2012-01-23.
  18. ^ Dana, Nissim. The Druze in the Middle East: their faith, leadership, identity and status. 2003. pg.14.
  19. ^ In the Golan Heights, Anxious Eyes Look East. Nytimes.com (2011-05-22). Retrieved on 2012-01-23.
  20. ^ Central Elections Committee, Results of the elections for the 18th Knesset (eligible voters in column D). For age structure, see CBS.gov.il publications. For population, see CBS.gov.il Ishuvim
  21. ^ Luis Ramirez. "Israeli Druze Keep An Eye Across Fence as Syria Upheaval Unfolds". VOANews.com 2 May 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
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