Majdal Shams, Golan Heights – Golan Druze Mark Anniversary Of Israeli Annexation

    2

    A member of the Druze community holds a placard depicting Syria's President Bashar al-Assad during a rally marking the anniversary of Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights in 1981, a strategic plateau which it captured in the 1967 Middle East War, in the Druze village of Majdal Shams, in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights February 14, 2019. REUTERS/Ammar AwadMajdal Shams, Golan Heights – Carrying Syrian flags and pictures of President Bashar al-Assad, hundreds of Arab Druze who live on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights gathered on Thursday to mark the annexation of the territory Israel captured from Syria in the 1960s.

    Join our WhatsApp group

    Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


    Dressed in traditional black garb and white hats, the protesters chanted, pledging loyalty to Syria.

    “This land is the land of our fathers and grandfathers, the land is ours. No one has the right to it other than the Syrians,” said Qasem Mahmoud al-Safadi from the village of Majdal Shams.

    The Golan was part of Syria until Israel captured it in the 1967 Middle East war. Israel annexed the territory in 1981 in a move not recognized internationally.

    The Druze are an Arab minority who practice an offshoot of Islam and whose adherents in Syria have long been loyal to its ruling Assad family.

    Around 22,000 Druze live on the Israeli-held Golan. Israel, seeking to further integrate them, has offered citizenship but most Druze rejected it.

    Another 120,000 Druze living in Israel make up about two percent of the population and are one of the country’s most integrated minorities.

    Once willing to consider returning the Golan for peace with Syria, the Israelis have in recent years argued that the war in Syria and the presence there of an Iranian garrison backing Damascus show they need to keep the strategic plateau.
    Members of the Druze community hold Syrian flags during a rally marking the anniversary of Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights in 1981, a strategic plateau which it captured in the 1967 Middle East War, in the Druze village of Majdal Shams, in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights February 14, 2019. REUTERS/Ammar Awad


    Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

    iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

    Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


    Connect with VINnews

    Join our WhatsApp group


    2 Comments
    Most Voted
    Newest Oldest
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    triumphinwhitehouse
    triumphinwhitehouse
    5 years ago

    what chutzpah, can you imagine having the picture of Kahane in Damascus, BIBI is just weak so I don’t count him

    PaulinSaudi
    PaulinSaudi
    5 years ago

    Are these men born about seventy years old?