- Title: ISRAEL-SYRIA/DRUZE Druze in Israeli-held Golan fear for Syrian brethren
- Date: 19th June 2015
- Summary: GOLAN HEIGHTS (JUNE 18, 2015) (REUTERS) DRUZE FLAG WAVING ON BORDERS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND SYRIA VARIOUS OF DRUZE LOOKING THROUGH BINOCULARS AT SYRIA SYRIA AS SEEN FROM GOLAN HEIGHTS RESIDENT OF GOLAN HEIGHTS, SALMAN, WALKING NEAR BORDERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RESIDENT OF GOLAN HEIGHTS, SALMAN, SAYING: "We are in contact with our brothers in Hader and our family and relatives
- Embargoed: 4th July 2015 13:00
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- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVABFMJGPQSWQ3A5LWTZVJZOEZHT
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- Story Text: Gathered at a hilltop in the Israeli-held Golan Heights, a group of Druze sheikhs on Thursday (June 18) looked through binoculars at the Syrian village of Hader, now surrounded by Islamist fighters. They fear their brethren are in imminent danger.
Intense battles this week left Syria's al Qaeda branch, the Nusra Front, in control of the hills that close round the Druze village, leaving open only a southern gateway facing the Israeli-held territory and security fence.
Last week Nusra front, in Idlib, further north, killed at least 20 Druze villagers, raising concern for the minority as insurgents, including Sunni Islamists gain ground against President Bashar al-Assad.
A few dozen of Hader's houses can be seen from across the frontier and the Syrian flag, a symbol of loyalty to Assad, is painted on a water tower. A handful of people could be seen for a brief moment out in the street.
The explosions and gunfire near Hader this week thundered across to Majdal Shams, a Druze village in the Israeli-held Golan, four kilometers (2.5 miles) away.
Many here have family in Hader. Salman, 54, said he has been speaking with his cousin there daily.
"We are in contact with our brothers in Hader and our family and relatives because we are very worried about them. And we tell you that they are fine and they are fighting for their houses, families, children and their country with the help of the brave Arab Syrian Army," said Salman.
Another resident of the Golan Heights, Tayseer Marei, said that if the fighting continues near the Druze village in Syria, he expected Druze from the Golan Heights to go and support their families in the fighting.
"Surely we are worried, we are watching and observing the situation. And I hope that as I said that things will be better because we expect that if the fighting will go inside the village so you can not stop people, maybe people will go to support and help their relatives in the other side," Tayseer Marei said.
The Druze faith, related to Islam, Christianity and Judaism, is practiced by around 1.5 million people, mostly in Syria, Lebanon and Israel. It is viewed as heretical by the puritanical school of Sunni Islam espoused by al Qaeda and Islamic State.
Majdal Shams is home to about 10,000 Druze. In the shops and restaurants that line its narrow winding streets people are talking about Hader. Split between supporters of Assad and those who want him gone, the villagers say they are united in their fear for their brethren.
Resident of Golan Heights, Nabi Halabi, 45, said that his relatives in Syria have been receiving calming messages that they would not be harmed, but according to him, his relatives are preparing themselves for a possible battle.
"We have relatives in Hader village and in Jurmana, in Sweida. We are always in contact with them, all the time. Our only and main interest recently is about their personal safety," Nabi Halabi said.
Israel captured the Golan from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed it in a move not recognized internationally. It gave the Druze there, who today number about 20,000, the option of citizenship. Most rejected it.
Druze inside Israel number about 110,000, some have reached Israel's political and military echelons and have called for intervention as Islamist fighters have made gains in more parts of Syria, including the Druze heartland of Sweida near the border with Jordan and Israel.
Israel's army chief Gadi Eizenkot told parliament on Tuesday that preparations were under way to respond to any massing of refugees on the Golan, but did not elaborate on planned actions. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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