Israel police arrest dozens of Druze on their way to Syria - The Jerusalem Post

Members of the Druze community holds Syrian and Druze flags as they sit facing Syria, during a rally marking the anniversary of Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights in the Druze village of Majdal Shams. February 14, 2019. . (photo credit: AMMAR AWAD / REUTERS)

Dozens of Druze men were arrested by the Israeli police on Thursday morning as they attempted to cross into Syria via Jordan to meet with Syrian government officials in violation of Israeli law.

A police statement said that the joint Police and Shin Bet operation took place over the last few months, carried out both undercover and in the open.

“It became clear that the group of men, Druze from the Galilee and Carmel regions, intended to go to Syria which is illegal and against the law,” the police said, adding that “when their intentions became known to authorities they were warned that their activities are against the law as it would compromise the security of the State and its citizens.”

Despite the warnings, the group arrived in buses and private vehicles at the Sheikh Hussein border crossing with Jordan with the intention to then cross into Syria. The buses and cars were immediately stopped by authorities and confiscated.

“The police and Shin Bet will continue to work to prevent terror-related activity and attempts by terror organizations from recruiting Israeli civilians,” the police said in a statement, adding that while that while the rights of all citizens – including freedom of movement and religion – will be protected, the two agencies “will continue operations to prevent any attempts to endanger Israel’s security.”

While Israel and Syria are still officially at war, a large part of the 20,000 Druze citizens living in the Golan Heights are Syrian citizens with family ties to Druze in the regime-controlled territory. Before the civil war in Syria, many used to cross the border to study or for marriage purposes.

Another 110,000 Druze live in the Galilee district where most have Israeli nationality. Over 85% of Druze voluntarily serve in the IDF with a large majority in combat positions or in special units and border police, with many reaching senior positions in the military and police.

Last year, the Druze community was in an uproar over the proposed Nation-State Law with many saying that it broke the traditional “blood alliance” between Israel and the Druze.

Supporters of the controversial Nation-State Law say that it enshrines Jewish and democratic values but critics saw that it discriminates against minority communities like the Druze and Israeli Arabs as they perceived it downgrades the Arabic language from official to “special.”

Idan Zonshine contributed to this report.

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https://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Druze-convoy-arrested-at-Jordanian-border-while-attempting-enter-Syria-600714

2019-09-05 11:31:00Z
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