In response to media reports of ongoing talks between Israel and Syria, some members of the Druse communities in the Golan Heights are signaling they feel they are “Syrians living under Israel occupation.”

Ahmed Samara, 56, of Majdal Shams, welcomes the reports of talks, hoping to find himself a resident of Syria in the future.

Dr. Taiysa Mari, a 47-year-old biologist, also a resident of Majdal Shams, classifies Druse resident of the Golan Heights as “Syrians in every aspect of their lives”.

Mari questions why one would prefer “Israeli occupation,” adding “there is no such thing as a good occupation. Another neighbor, Ahmed Samara admits it makes no difference to him, explaining “if there is peace, there will be a better livelihood and that is what counts.”

The Druse community in the Golan Heights represents 20,000 residents of the area’s total population of 38,000, living in four major villages, Masada, Ei Kinye, Bukata and Majdal Shams, the largest of the group.

Since Israel’s liberation of the Golan Heights in 1967, Druse community residents have served in the IDF but they do seem to wave the Syrian flag at every opportunity they get. They do show allegiance to Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad and to his father before him, Assad al-Assad.

In actuality, most Druse residents refuse to accept Israeli citizenship and make due with residency status.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)