Israeli Policy toward the Druze on the Golan, June 1967-February 1969

Abstract

This article examines Israel’s policy toward the residents of the Druze villages on the Golan Heights between June 1967 and February 1969 – a period beginning with the conquest of the Golan in the Six Day War and ending with the death of Prime Minister Levi Eshkol. The article argues that the policy toward the Druze population that remained on the Golan after the war was a reflection of the policy implemented toward the Druze in the Galilee and the Carmel, which was based on Israel’s perception of the Druze as a preferred minority. Israel’s approach toward the Druze residents of the Golan also reflected the policy toward residents of the other territories occupied in the war and toward the Arab minority within the Green Line. At the same time, Israel’s position toward the Golan Druze was a direct outcome of the policy applied to the Golan itself.
Already at the beginning of Israel’s occupation of the ‘Syrian Heights,’ steps were taken to establish control over the area while endeavoring to maintain normal life in the Druze villages. A few months later, against the background of Israel’s gradually emerging determination to hold on to the Golan, the civilian and military authorities sought to integrate the Golan’s Druze residents into the State of Israel, both economically and civically. However, their integration was only partially achieved since they were until only recently Syrian citizens, and also in view of their status in Israel as residents without citizenship. The Druze received only partial rights from the State of Israel and had few duties toward it. At the same time, Israeli authorities sought to strengthen ties between the Druze in the Golan and Druze within the Green Line, with the goal of encouraging their sectarian–religious consciousness and blurring their Syrian and Arab identity.