Golan Druze Apply for Israeli Citizenship in Record Numbers
From quiet rejection to a rush for blue ID cards, the Golan’s Druze community is signaling where it sees its future, and safety, in an increasingly volatile Middle East.
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A dramatic surge in Israeli citizenship applications among Druze residents of the Golan Heights has marked a significant shift in the community’s relationship with Israel, according to data reported by Israel’s public broadcaster Kan 11.
The Interior Ministry recorded over 1,050 applications in the first half of 2025 alone, a sharp rise from just 90 in 2020, reflecting a growing trend among a group that has historically resisted full citizenship.
For decades, most Golan Druze, living in villages in the northern Golan Heights, territory Israel captured from Syria in 1967, opted for permanent residency over citizenship, preserving their distinct identity and ties to Syria. The recent data shows a clear change: 325 applications in 2021, 623 in 2022, 554 in 2023, 572 in 2024, and now 1,050 in the first six months of 2025.
The turning point appears linked to the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, which prompted many Druze to reevaluate their future. Analysts point to Syria’s persistent instability, the increasing integration of younger Druze into Israeli society, and the relative safety and opportunities offered by Israel’s democratic system as possible reasons for the change. The Golan Druze, once hesitant due to ideological and familial connections to Syria, are now embracing Israeli citizenship in unprecedented numbers.