From the Liveblog of
Friday, March 14, 2025
Syrian Druze clerics enter Israel to visit revered shrine for first time in decades
Several dozen Syrian Druze clerics cross the armistice line on the Golan Heights into Israel on Friday, to conduct their community’s first pilgrimage in decades.
On board three buses escorted by Israeli military vehicles, the clerics cross at Majdal Shams in the Golan, and head to northern Israel where they will visit the shrine and meet the leader of Israel’s Druze, according to a source close to the delegation.
The delegation of around 60 clerics is due to meet the spiritual leader of Israel’s Druze community, Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, in northern Israel.
They are then set to head to the tomb of Nabi Shuaib in the Galilee -– the most important religious site for the Druze.
A source close to the delegation says that the visit follows an invitation from the Druze community in Israel, but that it was met with “strong opposition” from other Druze in Syria.
The Druze account for about three percent of Syria’s population and are heavily concentrated in the southern province of Sweida.
Israel is home to around 150,000 Druze, with most holding Israeli citizenship and serving in the army.
However, of the some 23,000 living in the Golan Heights, most do not hold Israeli citizenship and still see themselves as Syrian nationals.
The Times of Israel Community.