Syria: 600 Druze to make overnight visit to Israel in pilgrimage

Hundreds of Syrian Druze could make an overnight visit to a shrine in Israel this week, after a similar trip by religious leaders last month sparked controversy in Syria.

As many as 600 religious leaders are expected to make the pilgrimage to the tomb of Nabi Shuaib for the festival of Ziyara, which is observed annually between 25 and 28 April.

Damascus has no relations with Israel, and there have been added tensions over recent Israeli incursions into Quneitra and Daraa provinces, where at least a dozen Syrians have been killed, and its continued occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz approved the visit of 600 Druze to the shrine in the Lower Galilee region on Friday, according to Walla News, with their return to Syria scheduled for Saturday.

In March, Syrian Druze made a pilgrimage to the tomb of Nabi Shuaib for the first time since 1948, when the State of Israel was created and Palestinians were expelled from their homeland, with 60 religious leaders crossing into Israel in a highly controversial visit.

The Druze, an offshoot of Ismailism, are scattered across the Levant region, including Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine, although politically they remain deeply divided.

The Druze of Lebanon fought on the same side as the Palestinians and clashed with Israel during the Lebanese Civil War, while Druze of Palestinian origin within Israel's 1948 boundaries are strong supporters of Israel and serve in the Israeli army.

Most of Syria's Druze community inhabit the southern province of Suweida or the occupied Golan Heights, although most Druze there still consider themselves Syrians despite Israel illegally annexing the territory in 1981.

Syria has never recognised Israel and barred its citizens from visiting the country, although Israel has taken advantage of the confusion since the overthrow of Bashar Al-Assad's regime to seize more territory in Quneitra and launched several deadly raids into Daraa province.

It has also sought to foster secessionist ambitions in Suweida, although religious and local leaders in the Druze-majority province have largely rejected such outreach.

In March, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces were prepared to reach as far as Jaramana - a Damascus suburb - to "protect" Syria's Druze community, an offer which was met with widespread rejection from the community.