Golan Druze Villages See Near Tripling of Eligible Voters Ahead of Elections
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
The number of eligible voters in four Druze villages in the Golan Heights has nearly tripled to over 8,150 for the current Knesset elections, up from 2,755 in 2022. This surge is linked to increased Israeli naturalization following the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. Despite the rise in eligible voters, participation in past elections has been low, with only about 640 votes cast in 2022. The shift reflects changing attitudes towards Israeli citizenship and election participation among Golan residents.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Eligible voters in four Golan Druze villages surged to 8,150 for the 26th Knesset elections, nearly tripling since 2022.
- The increase in eligible voters is attributed to a rise in Israeli naturalization after the fall of the Assad regime in Syria.
- In 2022, only about 640 residents voted across the four villages, less than a quarter of those eligible.
- The change signifies a shift in attitudes among some Golan residents towards Israeli citizenship and election participation.
- The total number of eligible Druze voters across Israel now exceeds 85,000.
The number of eligible voters in the four Druze villages in the Golan Heights has nearly tripled in four years, reaching approximately 8,150 for the 26th Knesset elections held today, compared to just 2,755 in 2022. This sharp increase is attributed to a surge in naturalization applications, particularly since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria. The growth is evident across all four villages: Majdal Shams saw its eligible voters rise from 1,338 to about 3,720; Buq'ata from around 750 to 2,300; Mas'ada from about 460 to 1,295; and Ein Qiniya from 207 to 832. Ein Qiniya experienced a fourfold increase, and Buq'ata more than tripled.
The trend began before Assad's fall but intensified significantly during 2025. According to Interior Ministry data, 3,750 residents of these villages became naturalized that year, a stark contrast to a few hundred annually in preceding years. The first two months of 2026 saw nearly a thousand more naturalizations. For decades, many Golan Druze avoided Israeli citizenship, retaining permanent resident status, partly due to fears of Syrian repercussions and local reactions to identifying with Israel. However, the collapse of the Assad regime and violence against Druze in Syria prompted a shift in perspective for some.
Despite the increased number of eligible voters, participation remains low. In the 2022 elections, only about 640 people voted across the four villages, less than a quarter of those eligible. Voting patterns in 2022 also differed from typical Arab sector trends, with parties like Yesh Atid and Likud receiving significant votes in Majdal Shams, and National Unity and Yisrael Beiteinu leading in Buq'ata. Yesh Atid led in Ein Qiniya, and a local party won in Mas'ada.
Signs of change were visible leading up to the current elections, with Israeli party election signs appearing in Buq'ata, a rare sight previously. Local estimates suggest 300 to 500 residents might vote in Buq'ata this time. While the increase in eligible voters is not limited to the Golan, with over 85,000 registered Druze voters across the Carmel, Galilee, and Golan, the thousands of votes from Golan villages, even with increased turnout, are unlikely to sway national Knesset seat allocations. The primary significance lies in the evolving attitudes of some Golan residents towards Israeli citizenship and participation in Knesset elections.
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