Druze Member of Knesset to Sputnik: We Will Fight Like Any Israeli

Who are the Druze?

The Druze is an Arabic-speaking ethnic and religious minority group living in Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. In Israel, according to statistics, the Druze population was approximately 150,000 at the end of 2022 (about 1.6% of the population). Israeli Druze live mostly in the northern part of the country: across Mount Carmel, Galilee, and the Golan Heights.

They follow their own unique monotheistic faith, which incorporates many beliefs from Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, and even Greek philosophy and Hinduism. The Druze religion is closed to outsiders and remains mostly unexplored by the public.

Since 1948, when the State of Israel was created, the Druze community on its territory started to strongly identify itself with Israel. The Druze serve in both the military and civil service, with many Druze generals, ambassadors, members of the Knesset, and government ministers.

‘Druze Share Their Fate With Israel’

During the recent escalation between Israel and Hamas, the Druze stand with Israel, as other Israeli citizen, noted Israeli Druze politician and Member of the Knesset Akram Hasson.

“The Druze community shares its fate with the State of Israel. We are Israeli citizens, loyal to our defense, serving our duty in the army and our duty is to defend Israel. Hamas has become ISIS (Daesh)* since long ago. We defend the citizens of Israel every day. The radical Muslims are trying to create apartheid for the Israelis and not the other way around. Israel protects the security of its citizens every day.”

The politician also pointed out that Druze community has already suffered losses during the current hostilities.

“The Druze have been in the army since 1948, thousands of soldiers serve regularly. On October 7, we were recruited as part of the reserves like every citizen loyal to his country and we are fighting for the house. We lost three Druze soldiers and also one officer. And the Druze continue serving and fighting bravely for our future,” he said.

Moreover, the northern part of Israel is regularly shelled by Hezbollah from Lebanon, including Druze villages. Last week, the IDF evacuated more than 20,000 civilians from the border with Lebanon.

“Indeed, there was an evacuation of settlements in the north, including a Druze one. There is nothing to think about here, we are part of the people and the residents in the north, what interests us is winning the war. Hezbollah is a terrorist organization that destroyed Lebanon and we will fight it like any Israeli,” Akram Hasson summed up.

*Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS/Islamic State) is a terrorist organization banned in Russia and many other countries.