From the Liveblog of
Thursday, April 24, 2025
600 Syrian Druze clerics said set to visit Israel tomorrow for pilgrimage, including overnight stay
Stav Levaton is a military reporter for The Times of Israel
Defense Minister Israel Katz has approved the entry of 600 Syrian Druze clerics into Israel tomorrow to celebrate the holiday of Ziyara at the tomb of Nabi Shuaib in the Lower Galilee, the Walla news site reports.
This would mark the first time Syrian Druze visitors are permitted to stay overnight in Israel. They will return to Syria the following day.
In March, Katz authorized a similar visit for 60 clerics, who met with the spiritual leader of Israel’s Druze community, Sheikh Muafak Tarif, and visited the sacred site.
The IDF’s Northern Command is expected to heighten its readiness during the visit and will oversee the crossing of the clerics across the border, according to the report.
The Times of Israel Community.