Syrian Druze Clerics Make Historic Visit to Israel After Decades

Nearly 100 Druze religious leaders from Syria crossed into Israeli-controlled territory for the first time in over 50 years to visit sacred sites and meet with their Israeli Druze counterparts.

• A delegation of Syrian Druze clerics crossed the fortified border into the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights for the first time in more than 50 years, marking a significant religious and cultural event.
• The group, consisting of nearly 100 clerics, traveled to visit the tomb of Nabi Shuayb, a revered Druze religious site in northern Israel, as part of a pilgrimage facilitated by Israeli authorities.
• The visit comes as Israel has expressed support for the Druze community in Syria following the recent overthrow of Bashar al-Assad and the rise of a new Islamist-led government in the country.
• Israeli officials have pledged humanitarian aid and protection for Syrian Druze, while some members of the Druze community in Syria have criticized the visit, citing political tensions and loyalty to a unified Syria.
• This rare crossing underscores the complex ties between Druze communities divided by borders, with many navigating their historical Syrian identity while living under Israeli rule in the Golan Heights.

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