The Druze Community in Israel

Abstract

The Druze religion began during the reign of the Muslim Fatimid caliph al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (ruled 996–1021 ce). Al-daʾwa (the call) invited those who believed to join the new faith— al-Tawhid (Unitarianism). After the disappearance of al-Hakim in 1021, the Druze were persecuted by the successor Fatimid caliph, and those captured were either forced to renounce their faith or be killed. As a consequence, the Druze went underground in the hope of survival. A few years later, the call to join the new Druze religion was ended. Since then, one cannot convert to become a Druze, as only one who is born to Druze parents can be considered a Druze. The Druze beliefs and practices are influenced by the Qurʾan as well as by Greek, Persian, and Indian philosophies. The religious texts are known collectively as Kitab al-Hikma (The Book of Wisdom) and include a collection of epistles and correspondence between luminaries. These Epistles of Wisdom are considered secret and are hidden from any Druze Jahil (layperson) as well as from any non-Druze. Based on these texts, the Druze believe in an abstract and direct connection to God, and in the free will of human beings. However, the most significant component of the Druze religion is the belief in the reincarnation of the soul after death. At the End of Times, God will send each soul either to Heaven or Hell, following one’s actions in all of his or her lives. The Druze have similar traditions to other Arabs living in the Middle East and North Africa. They also celebrate the same festivals as other Muslims, such as Eid al-Adha (the sacrifice feast) which honors the sacrifice of a son that Ibrahim was willing to make. The total number of Druze worldwide is not known, but estimates range between 1.5 and 2 million people. Most of the Druze live in the Middle-East, with the largest community in Syria. Others live in Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan. Nowadays, Druze can be found in some European countries, in Canada and the United States, and in many Latin American countries. Druze have lived in the Middle East, including Palestine, since the beginning of the religion, at the beginning of the past millennium. The settlement of the Druze in Palestine was strengthened during the 17th century, but was weakened by the end of the Ottoman period. During the British Mandate over Palestine, the Druze numbered only about ten thousand, or less than 1 percent of the population in Palestine. Following the 1948 war, the Druze—then numbering roughly fifteen thousand—were allowed to stay in their villages owing to agreements made with the newly established state of Israel. In 2018, the Druze in Israel number about 140,000 people, making up around 2 percent of Israel’s population. More than 90 percent of them live in sixteen villages and towns with a Druze majority. Excluding the Druze living in the four Druze villages in the Golan Heights (proclaimed as Syrian territory), the vast majority of the Druze in Israel consider themselves Israelis. Druze serve in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and they are integrated into the Israeli political system. Yet, they suffer from a national identity crisis compared to other Israeli Arab-Palestinians, while their socioeconomic situation is the same as other non-Jewish citizens.