Sheikh al-Aql of the Druze community, Hikmat al-Hijri, welcomed the Israeli support offered to the Druze community, considering that “Israel is not the enemy.”

In an interview with the American newspaper, The Washington Post, published today, Saturday, May 10, he stated, “We are in a crisis and we call for international intervention,” adding that Israel “is not the enemy,” in “stark contradiction” to the views of many Syrians, according to the newspaper.

Al-Hijri said, “We have lived for decades under these slogans; in Syria, we should care only about the Syrian cause,” referring to the previous regime’s insistence that it was a supporter of Palestinian rights and thus opposed to Israel, according to The Washington Post.

Al-Hijri is a prominent religious figure in the Druze community and is opposed to the Syrian government at a time when other sheikhs play a mediating role with the government to resolve lingering issues in predominantly Druze areas, such as Sheikh al-Aql Youssef al-Jarbou’, Sheikh Hamoud al-Hanawi, Sheikh Laith al-Balous, and Sheikh Yahya al-Hajjar.

The Washington Post reported that “Israel has recently positioned itself as a protector of the Druze in the country, opening its borders for the first time in decades for religious observances, announcing a plan to grant them temporary work permits in northern Israel, and establishing a medical center to sort cases for treating Druze from Syria, even promoting an ‘Israeli security umbrella.’”

However, several prominent Druze figures have distanced themselves publicly from these initiatives, fearing that this may increase targeting of the community, according to the newspaper.

Local residents told the American newspaper that they realize that “Israel’s actions are mostly self-serving, but they fear for their future to the extent that they accept any assistance to ensure their safety.”

Rabie Murshid, a local fighter (30 years old), stated, “Israel is not doing this to help the Druze but for its own interests; however, honestly, we don’t mind their help against this government,” adding, “We have no other choice; these people want to annihilate us by force.”

His brother Tharwat, another fighter, sarcastically told the newspaper, “Israel puts us in a position that forces us to confront the rest of the Syrian people.”

Israeli intervention

The Israeli statements coincide with security tensions observed in areas inhabited by Syrian Druze in the As-Suwayda province and the cities and towns of Jaramana, Sahnaya, and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya in the Damascus countryside.

However, community leaders and elders rejected Israeli intervention, reaching an agreement with the government to activate security and state institutions following events that occurred in both Sahnaya and Jaramana, which led to clashes among armed fighters.

The tensions erupted after a leaked audio recording containing insults to Prophet Muhammad, attributed to a Druze sheikh, which the latter denied.

Israel has intervened amidst the tensions, threatening to hit government targets if the latter becomes involved in “committing acts of violence against the Druze.”

Israel conducted an airstrike near the presidential palace in Damascus on May 2, which it considered a “warning strike” against approaching Druze villages.

In late April, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a joint statement that the Israeli army executed a strike in Syria targeting a “militant group” that was preparing to attack a “Druze compound.”

During his visit to France, Syrian transitional president Ahmed al-Sharaa announced in a press conference with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on May 7 that there were indirect negotiations through intermediaries to de-escalate tensions between Syria and Israel, without naming the mediator.

Reuters revealed in a report today about Emirati mediation in indirect talks between Syria and Israel, in light of the latter’s escalation and continuous bombing following the fall of the regime.