The IDF reports a sharp rise in enlistment from the Golan Druze, with more than 400 joining in the past year alone.
By Hezy Laing
The Druze community of the Golan Heights has long been defined by ambivalence toward Israel and hostility toward the Israel Defense Forces.
For decades, many Druze refused Israeli citizenship, clung to Syrian identity, and viewed the IDF as an occupying force.
This stance was rooted in history, as the Druze of the Golan were cut off from their kin in Syria after Israel’s annexation of the territory in 1981.
The community’s loyalty to Syria was reinforced by fear of reprisals against relatives across the border, and enlistment in the IDF was rare.
That reality has shifted dramatically in 2025.
The IDF reports a sharp rise in enlistment from the Golan Druze, with more than 400 young men and women joining in the past year alone.
This surge follows years of gradual integration but was accelerated by the massacre of Druze civilians in Syria’s Sweida province, where Syrian army units and allied militias killed scores of villagers.
The brutality shocked Druze across the region and prompted many in Israel to reconsider their position.
For the first time, the IDF is seen not as an adversary but as a protector, offering security and dignity in a volatile Middle East.
Personal stories illustrate the transformation.
Colonel Safi Ibrahim, himself a Druze officer, explained that the Sweida massacre stirred deep emotions in his community.
“We realized that survival means solidarity,” he said, noting that younger Druze now see service as both protection and pride.
Another recruit, nineteen‑year‑old Amir from Majdal Shams, described how his grandfather once forbade any talk of joining the army.
After witnessing the plight of Syrian Druze, Amir chose to enlist, saying, “I want to defend my family here, so they never face what our cousins faced there.”
The surge in enlistment also reflects broader trends, including rising applications for Israeli citizenship among Golan Druze.
Integration is increasingly seen as a path to stability, opportunity, and belonging.
What was once a community defined by suspicion of Israel is now producing soldiers who wear its uniform proudly.
The shift underscores how regional violence can reshape loyalties and identities, turning former hostility into partnership.
For the IDF, the enlistment of hundreds of Druze recruits is more than a statistical rise—it is a symbol of reconciliation and resilience.
