After replying to the question in the subject field, it occurred to me that this email was a teachable moment about the Jews and the Druze in the news.
From: …@gmail.com
Date: Sat., June 20, 2015
Subject: Is this “Most rejected it” true?
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 number about 20,000, the option of citizenship. Most rejected it.
http://mobile.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSKBN0OZ0VP20150619?irpc=932
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My understanding is that many of the Golan Druze (possibly most) rejected Israel’s offer of citizenship after the Six Day War because they believed Syria would eventually recapture the Heights. And when that day would come, any Druze with Israeli citizenship would be viewed as a traitor and be in terrible danger.
Over time, as the Golan Druze felt more secure, they (the younger generation, at least) gradually began opting for citizenship, its social benefits, army service, and public activity. But you have to remember: before the Syrian civil war broke out, it was common for Golan Druze students to study in Syrian colleges, marry Syrian Druze women, and even bring them back to the Golan to settle down.
There are other pockets of Druze in the Galilee and Mt. Carmel areas. They sided with the Jews during Israel’s War of Independence, became citizens when the state was founded, and these are the Druze personalities you hear about in senior political, military and public spheres.
I’m mentioning all this because many people (until recently, myself included) tend to conflate the Druze communities. They’re both Druze, but they have separate stories. One came into Israeli orbit by choice, the other by circumstance.
So Reuters isn’t wrong, but I can understand why you thought it was.
Featured image: “Map of Druze Communities” CC BY-SA HonestReporting.com
