Golan Druze Embrace Israeli Citizenship Amid Regional Turmoil

A significant increase in Israeli citizenship applications among Druze residents of the Golan Heights has led to a dramatic rise in voter turnout in recent elections. In the village of Ein Qiniya, voter participation surged from just 31 in the previous election to 386, an increase of over twelvefold. This surge is attributed to a growing trend of naturalization, with nearly 1,300 residents in Ein Qiniya now holding Israeli identity cards, compared to only a few dozen previously. Wael Mughrabi, Head of the Council, noted this trend, stating, "There is a significant increase in naturalization among the Druze residents of the Golan Heights." He attributes this shift partly to the Arab Spring and subsequent developments in neighboring Arab countries, which have gradually altered the sense of belonging to Syria among Golan Druze. Mughrabi highlighted improvements in local infrastructure, such as new schools and sports facilities, and cooperation with the IDF and Home Front Command during the COVID-19 pandemic, as factors fostering a stronger connection to Israel. He also pointed to the perceived lack of support from the international community for Druze communities in Syria facing violence, contrasting it with Israel's support for their families. The tragic incident in Majdal Shams in the summer of 2024, where 12 children died in a soccer field, and subsequent missile attacks by Hezbollah, have further influenced this perception.

In the four Druze villages in the Golan Heights, Majdal Shams, Buqata, Ein Qiniya, and Mas'ada, home to approximately 26,000 residents, over 8,000 were eligible to vote in the last election, with a 44% turnout. The Yisrael Beiteinu party, led by Avigdor Lieberman, received the highest number of votes in each of these villages, partly due to the placement of Druze Member of Knesset Hamad Amar on their list. This electoral success coincides with a notable increase in Druze enlistment in the IDF, with 20 young men from the Golan joining for regular service for the first time, following hundreds who joined emergency response teams after basic training.

The article also touches upon political dynamics, with Yishai! led by Gadi Eisenkot coming in second place. Wael Mughrabi, who previously ran for local council and was a member of the Likud, now leads a separate list. He expressed disappointment with parties like Yisrael Beiteinu, questioning their contributions to the Druze community and suggesting that support from figures like Itzhak Kroizer and Itzhak Wasserlauf of the Otzma Yehudit party was more impactful during local difficulties. The article notes that MK Hamad Amar has proposed legislation to repeal the Nation-State Law and the Kaminitz Law, though his party's stance on the Nation-State Law has been criticized.

Recent events, such as the strong local opposition to wind turbine projects on Majdal Shams land, have also brought Golan Druze to the forefront. Nabih Halabi, a resident involved in the energy sector, stated their firm stance against the turbines, viewing them as an environmental hazard and emphasizing their fight for their land. While Halabi himself has not yet naturalized, he estimates hundreds are waiting to do so, predicting that most residents will be citizens within a few years, driven by a collective decision to embrace Israeli identity following the Syrian civil war and the perceived abandonment by the Syrian regime. Data from the Population and Immigration Authority shows a significant rise in Israeli citizenship among Golan Druze, with nearly half of the residents holding Israeli citizenship by November 2026, up from about 17% in July 2022.

Experts like Dr. Salim Brick observe that while the naturalization trend is positive, there's a lack of investment in infrastructure and employment for the community. He advocates for mandatory IDF service for all Druze, similar to Bedouins, to ensure equal rights and state support. The article concludes by noting the shared experience of Druze and Jews as minorities in the Middle East facing Islamic extremism, and mentions Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif's blessing of the trend, while emphasizing that the driving force is the harsh reality in Syria. There is also criticism directed at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, though some believe his stance has been supportive of the Druze community.