They chose Israel over the Arab world. Israel chose them back.

[Richard D]

In a region often defined by sectarian strife, the relationship between the State of Israel and the Druze community stands as a profound and enduring exception — a brotherhood forged not by convenience, but by loyalty, shared destiny, and mutual respect.

The Druze religious community began in the 10th century as an offshoot of Ismaili Shiite Islam but quickly developed into a unique, secretive ethno-religious group with its own theology and culture. One of its core tenets is loyalty to the country of residence, a survival strategy that made the Druze adept at balancing identity and citizenship across changing empires.

Leading up to the State of Israel’s founding in 1948, the Arab world was mobilizing for war against the nascent Jewish state. The prevailing expectation among Arab leaders, Arab citizens of Mandatory Palestine, and even many Jewish officials was that the Druze, as Arabic-speaking villagers located primarily in the Galilee and Carmel, would join their Muslim and Christian neighbors in opposing Israel’s creation.

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