First Druze crossing in 50 years as Israel courts allies in Syria

According to Middle East correspondent Lucy Williamson, a group of Syrian men crossed the UN-monitored buffer zone into the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights last Friday morning. As there are no diplomatic relations between Syria and Israel, Syrians usually risk being shot or arrested when crossing this area. This highlights the precarious situation and the potential dangers involved in such border crossings.

This visit, conducted by religious leaders of Syria's Druze minority, marks a significant shift in Israel's strategy in the border region and an expansion of its military control over Syrian territory, posing a direct challenge to the new government in Damascus. This is the first time in fifty years that Druze leaders have entered Israeli-controlled territory from Syria to visit local Druze religious sites and communities, indicating a new chapter in the complex relationship.

The buffer zone they crossed was established in the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Syria after the 1973 war, when Israel occupied Syrian territory in the Golan Heights, which it later annexed. In December, following the ousting of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Israel moved troops into the buffer zone in violation of the ceasefire agreement, which prohibits any military presence or equipment from either side. This action further complicates the already tense situation in the region.

Israel has now established military outposts in the area, including on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon (or Sheikh Mountain, the highest peak in the region). Israeli military reporters say nine such outposts have been established since December. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has stated that his forces are "preparing to stay in Syria indefinitely," signaling a long-term commitment to maintaining a military presence in the region.

Israel has also made multiple incursions into southern Syria, extending as far as 15 kilometers (9 miles) beyond the buffer zone, according to Israeli military reporters. Israel has warned that it will take action against any Syrian government forces or other armed groups entering Syrian provinces south of Damascus. Katz stated this week that the Israeli Air Force bombed 40 targets in southern Syria in one night, part of what Israel says was a bombing campaign aimed at destroying weapons depots and military equipment it feared could fall into enemy hands.

The southern Syrian provinces bordering Israel are home to many Syrian Druze. The Druze are Arabic-speaking people who adhere to a variant of Shia Islam, with communities spread across Syria, Israel, and Lebanon. Over the past three months, Druze in Syria have been watching Israeli troops move in and out of their villages, raising concerns about their safety and the potential for further conflict.

Their cooperation is crucial to Israel's security objectives. Israel has cited protecting them as a key rationale for its military strategy. Earlier this month, following clashes in Jaramana, south of Damascus, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Katz instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to prepare to defend the Druze community there and to "send a clear and stern warning: if the regime harms the Druze, it will be harmed." This demonstrates Israel's commitment to intervening on behalf of the Druze population.

The statement said: "We have an obligation to do everything we can for our Druze brothers in Israel to prevent harm to their Druze brothers in Syria, and will take all necessary steps to maintain their security." The statement also described the new Syrian government as an "extreme Islamic terror regime." Israel has been vocal about what it says are the risks faced by minorities such as the Druze from Syria's new leadership, further justifying its actions in the region.

But not all Druze – on either side of the border – accept that this is the real reason for Israel's military presence there. "The claim that they want to protect the Druze, we don't believe it," said Nabi Halabi, a Druze activist in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. "The main issue is that Israel wants to secure its border," he told me. "The border is the main thing, not us," reflecting skepticism about Israel's motives and a focus on its own strategic interests.

In addition to the new military incursions, Israel is also offering some benefits. This week's cross-border visit by religious leaders is one example. Providing aid to Syrian Druze communities is another. Israel has also promised that Syrian agricultural and construction workers will be able to enter the Golan Heights to work. There are also promises of new educational funding for Druze living in the Golan – a reminder of the investments Israel made after it annexed the territory in 1981, highlighting a complex mix of security and economic considerations.

The fact that Syria's new President, Shala'a, has family roots in the Golan will not escape notice on either side of the border. While Sunni Syrians fled after the 1973 war, some Druze remained and developed close ties with Israel, serving in the army and even obtaining Israeli citizenship. This adds another layer of complexity to the situation, as family ties and historical connections intersect with political and security concerns.

Although Syria's new interim President, Ahmed Shala'a, has family roots in the occupied Golan Heights, he has so far made no mention of Israel's annexation of Syrian territory since 1973, instead demanding that Israel withdraw from its recent incursions into the buffer zone and beyond. His government has also developed a 12-point plan to give the Druze minority limited autonomy within Syria's diverse population – a move many see as a positive step, potentially offering a path towards greater stability and inclusivity.

Activist Nabi Halabi says that after decades of watching President Assad's oppressive rule from the Israeli side of the buffer zone, many Druze are now assessing what the transition in Syria might mean for them. "After almost 60 years of Israeli occupation in the Golan Heights, and two or three generations who were born and lived and worked in Israel, we are looking east again," he said, indicating a shift in perspective and a renewed interest in the future of Syria.

"If there is a future peace agreement between Israel and Syria, what will happen to us? People want to see how the new regime will act – towards the Druze community, the Christians, the Alawites. If we are satisfied, and there are democratic elections and freedom of speech, I believe the people of the Golan Heights would be happy to be ruled by the Syrian government again," reflecting a desire for peace, stability, and a government that respects the rights of all its citizens.