Druze in Syria Announce: "We Demand Independence"

Following global reports of advanced contacts between Israel and Syria's new authorities, regarding an initial security agreement between the two countries, the Druze in southern Syria are issuing a demand to the world for recognition of Suwayda as an autonomous province.

Hikmat al-Hijri, the senior spiritual leader of the Druze community in Syria, today addressed the international community with an urgent call for support for the move. "The time has come for the world to recognize our right to self-determination," al-Hijri said, adding that the Druze "can no longer continue to live under a government that does not represent them."

In the As-Suwayda province, located in southern Syria near the border with Jordan and Israel, hundreds of thousands of Druze live who maintained relative neutrality throughout the war years, while preserving internal local control. Now, with the change in regional balance and renewed negotiations between Israel and the authorities in Damascus, community leaders demand to receive official recognition of their administrative and security independence.

According to reports on the matter, there is no intention in the negotiations between Israel and Syria to recognize the independence of the Druze, but a humanitarian corridor between Suwayda and Israel is indeed expected to be opened.

Israel and Syria have been in intensive talks over the state of southern Syria, especially since a raft of violent attacks against the Druze community in the Suwayda region and in light of Israel's fear of terrorist forces establishing themselves along the country's northern borders.

According to the report, the General Security forces Israel supports are attached to the country's Interior Ministry and is comprised of locals who are likely to be friendly to minorities, including the Druze. This would end the standoff in Suwayda, where the government has cut off the local Druze from basic services until it allows the entry of officials into the area.