At the end of last week, on Thursday, August 24, the head of the Druze community in Israel, Muafek Tarif, expressed his support for the demonstrations in al-Suwayda, in southern Syria, while calling for unifying the ranks between the sheikhs and the leaders of the popular public in the district.
Sheikh Tarif described the demonstrations in Al-Sweida as demands to preserve the dignity of the residents of the district, and that what they demand is a basic and natural right to a decent and normal life in Jabal al-Arab.
He explained that the Druze are the ones who laid the first building stone for the Syrian state about a century ago, and that no one can surpass their sacrifices over the decades, especially their stability in their lands and their adherence to their country in preference to other countries.
Triff emphasized that the steadfastness of the people of al-Suwayda requires the unity of ranks between the sheikhs of the community and the popular and political leaders in the Druze Mountains.
According to Sheikh Triff's statement, it appears that he is working to manage a series of international contacts with parties operating in Syria, in order to prevent the suppression of the peaceful popular struggle of the residents of the mountain.
A few days ago Sheikh Tarif made contact with the Druze leaders in the mountain and urged them to work together and unite.
Yesterday, Wednesday, the sheikh of the Druze community in Suwayda, Hamoud al-Hinawi, published a message in which he declared his solidarity with the demonstrations taking place in the Syrian arena.
A note in the background of the news: The direct involvement of the spiritual leader of the Druze in Israel and his encouragement in the face of the Druze rebellion in the Suwayda district of southern Syria can cause serious consequences for the members of his congregation.
In the recent past, when both communities in southern Syria were in danger of their lives due to attacks by ISIS and later by the Syrian army and the Iranian militias, young Druze people in Israel, including those who served in the IDF, began organizing to go to southern Syria, via Jordan, and join the Druze forces protecting more than 750,000 members of their congregation living in the district.This organization was stopped at the last minute after the girls were reached and the safety of the Druze in Syria was threatened.
The current calls are a return to the past scenario that could once again endanger the lives of Israeli citizens and could degenerate the entire region into an all-out war.
I hope everything is taken into account by the spiritual leader Muafek Triff.