Introduction:

In order to understand the Middle East conflicts. International affairs students should understand minorities in each state. In this research the reader will receive an efficient understanding of the Druze minority in the state of Israel. How their particularism built, how culture made their identity, how the question of minority became a political dilemma and analyzing the Middle East issues, particularly the Druze in Israel. More specifically , I will examine the history of the Druze , discussing their origins and relating it to the Israeli political project , providing the argument; That the Druze are able to integrate with any political power that dominate the area whether if they are Sunnis , Christians , Jews , Alwais .. etc. And , showing the Druze are able to preserve their customs and traditions and historical heritage (such as Arabazation) , despite the external and internal pressures .

Who are the Druze ?

The Druze are one on the monotheistic religions that branched from the Ismailism sect of Islam . The origin of the word Druze arrived from the name of a preacher in in 1018 ( Muhammad bin Ismail Nashtakin ad-Darazi ) . He was considered heretic because he apotheosis the Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah . The Druze resides basically in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel and they have communities in expanded in Canada, Australia, , Europe, Latin America, the USA . Israel is the 3rd largest gathering for Druze with 125,300 people comparing with 700,000 in Syria and 250,000 in Lebanon. (1)

The history of the Druzes :

In 1016, a Persian scholar who used to live in Bukhara , named Muhammad Ibn Ismail Nashtakin Ad-Durzi came in Cairo, who created the doctrine of the transmigration of souls (تناسخ الأرواح) . As well as claiming the divinity of al-Hakim Bamrallah. Then , he moved to Wadi Al Taymun because of the troubles of that time. (2) After that , he moved to the foot of mountain Hermon in Lebanon and Jabal as-Summaq in Syria to start the foundation of the Druze sect. Therefore , a reaction from Al Hakim In 1019 ordering his soldiers to siege the houses of ad-Darazi and his followers because he thought that they were threat to him . The people presurred in Al-Hakim to arrest the Druze , bringing them into trail due to their heresy . The Druze prepared and armed themselves in a house, resisting the besiegers from the roof and the wall. The attack cost 40 dead men among the Druze. In the same period , another Persian from Farghana, called Hasan al-Akhram calling for the same doctrine of Nashtakin in 1018. But , he was killed in his house after 8 days of his proclamation. Another famous person called " Hamza bin Ali bin Ahmad " supported by Al Hakim this time, born in 985 in Zawzan in Persia, whom the Druzes consider him as their real founder. He began to preach his tenets in 1017. Also , he settled in a mosque outside the Nasr Gate of Cairo, calling the community to accept his teachings . later on , he decided to send his preachers to different areas of Egypt , Persia , Afghanistan , India , China , Yemen , Syria , and some parts of Africa . But , Al Hakim didn't succeed with his preachers , only Syria worked well with Al Hakim .

In 1021 Al Hakim died in a strange way . One day in the morning he ride a white donkey trying to attend the " جبل المقطم" mountain of Maqtam near to the Cairo city . After that trip , he never returned back . Since that moment the Druze believed that he is the Mahdi and he will return later. Since that , the Druze believed that he was the last incarnated God in earth . Closing the doctrine (إغلاق باب العقيدة) of the Druze . Closing the doctrine means; they do not accept any one to enter the Durzi religion. Durzism is an inherited religion that doesn't accept strangers to enter in . Durzasim became tribal / racial religion. Even if the Durzi converted to another religions or faiths. He is still considered as Durzi , Because the Druze believed , that they are the chosen people . No matter what they do or act, they consider themselves elite and special race similarly with the Jewish doctrine. (3)

The time of ordeal :

After the disappearance of Al Hakim , Al Daher came to throne , but he hated the followers of Hamzah , Because they didn't recognize him as they recognized Al Hakim . So, Al Daher wanted to eliminate the Druze. Although, Al Hakim declared that no one should harm the Druze . Therefore, Al Daher wanted to get rid of this Fatwa . He gathered the scholars to consult with them. They decided to fast 40 days. Subsequently, Al Daher announced to the entire kingdom ( from Antioch until Alexandria ) , that the Druze must be killed . Aleppo and Antioch was the most disaster in the Druze history. Thousands of the Druze killed and tortured. The soldiers used to chop the heads of the Druze and stain it in the peak of spears. Some of them burned them with fire and some cleaves the abdomens, eaten their hearts and livers. Addition to that, many of them have been crucified and taken their money , women , children away from them . Even their children have been slaughtered in the hands of their mothers. This ordeal took 7 years. The Druze considers it as a test for the real believers. These events reshaped the Druze identity and it represents the ''sufferings'' which is similar to the holocaust for the Jews. (4)

The controversy of the racial origins of the Druze :

Most of the Druze in the Arab countries claims that they are from Arabian tribe. In the other hand, some of the Druze in Israel claimed the Jewish origin and some of them claimed Japanese origin!!! . (5)

According to Max Von Oppenheim. A German who wrote a book called " The Druze " stated that the Druze are mixed race , but the Arabic race absorbed them. (6)

يقول المؤلف " يعود أصل الدروز الحالي إلى أجزاء من قبائل عربية جاءت في القرن الثاني الهجري إلى لبنان الذي كان آنذاك آرامياً مسيحياً وانضمت إليهم فيما بعد بعض العناصر التركية والكردية ولكن هؤلاء امتصهم العنصر العربي

Kais M.Firro said in his book " A history of the Druze " [ Druze were a mixture of stocks in which Arab ( more particularly , the South Arab ) component largely predominated , onto which was grafted an original mountain population of Aramaic blood ..... Druze historians and scholars who wish to emphasize the pure Arab race of those who accepted the doctrine in the 11th century. Their argument points to the " purest Arab dialect " of the Druze and that they are of " purest Arab blood " unmixed through intermarriage with Turkish or other strains ...... Although many Druze in Israel still accept the guidance of their brethren in Syria and Lebanon on the matter of self-image , Israeli Druze politicians and some Druze intellectuals have begun to reject racial origins as a component in their national identity . This rejection fits in well with Israeli government policy , which aims at separating the Druze from the rest of the Arab communities in Israel . ] (7)

The Israelis are saying that the Druze are using Taqqiyya with the Arabs to claim Arab origins , while the Druze in Arabs countries are saying that the Druze in Israel are using Taqqiyya with the Israelis , claiming the separation of their race from the Arabs .

Tribes of the Druze :

The Druze tribes consists of different social classes depending on their family linage and political - economic status.

1- The most noble tribe among the Druze are Tanookh (تنوخ) , Arslan (أرسلان) and ElmAddin (علم الدين) tribes . All of them are the descendent of the Southern Arabia . All of these tribe have been extinct, except for Arslan tribe which are existed today in Lebanon. They had highest degrees of respect among the Druze and other non Durzi tribes.

2- The second class considered among the Druze is the Joumblatt tribe (from Kurdish origins) who had the greatest economical-Political status among the Druze.

3- After that , other tribes such as Al Imad , Al Nkd , Al Talhoq and Al Abdulmalek . (8)

Why Arab Identity is not easy to be separated from the Druze :

Although the state of Israel provoked a myth into some of the Druze minds , Some of the Israeli Druze commented in one of the news websites announcing that the Druze religion existed before Islam manifested in the "Prophet of the Druze" Nabi Shyab and he claimed that the Druze are the descendent of Nabi Shayb not from Arab origins !!! . But unfortunately, The Druze are defected from Ismaili Shiaa branch of Islam which means most (if not all) of their sacred books and scriptures are in Arabic language . The Shiaa Islam declares that the Imamat (Ruling) should be only in the descendent of Fatima ( The daughter of the prophet Muhammed ) . While a lot Sunnis believe that the Imamat should be In all Quraish , not just Bani Hashim or the Sons of Fatima . Therefore, This doctrine is another form of Arabazation , Because , Sharef Hussian (1854-1931) used the doctrine of the " Imamat should be in Quraish " for his pro Arab nationalist movement . That's why it's not easy to separate Durzaism from Arab Identity as well as Arab Nationalism from Islam .For that reason, The Israelis recognized that Arabazation is another mask of Islam . That's why they are trying to separating Arab nationality from the Druze , but they failed . In the other hand , They succeeded to make the Druze as the " elite of the Arabs " . Secondly, The Arabic Druze tribes trough the history are considered the relatives from other Arabian tribes especially the " Chehab family " which are used to be the princes of Lebanon between 1697-1861 . Although Max Oppenheim stated that the Chehab family ( originally the descendent of Khaled Bin Al Walid one of the companions of the prophet Muhammed ) converted into Christianity for political interests . Yet, there are some of the Chehab families calling themselves Muslim names!! Such as Muhammed , Khalid , Omar ... etc . Some of the European considered the pro Arab Christians as another branch of Islam . That is why Nicole Woods explain why the Maronnites refused the idea of Arabazation and refused claiming the Arab race and adopted the Phoenician origin to get political aids from the French and the Europeans, While the Druze and the Chehab family had a long history in resisting the Crusades as an effect of adopting Arab nationalism. Consequently, Arabazation is very hard to integrate into other races such as Kurds and Maronites as Nicole said in his book , but I say " It's harder to separate the Arab identity from the Druze and Alwais as well ". (9)

How Zionists built the Identity of the Druze in Israel:

Since 1948. The Israeli government tried to reshape Druze particularism identity to divide and rule the Arab region. Therefore, they established Inter-Ministerial Committee to facilitate the integration of the Druze in Israel. As a result of that, Druze had a special kind of independence in their political, judicial, economic and religious guidance. Israel succeeded to prevent the Arab minorities ( Druze used to be considered as a normal Arabs ) to perform united Arab political nationalism . Hence, a new notion of ethnicity and identity prevailed to separate them from other Arabs. On 13 June, battle of harvest between Arabs and Israelis. On 19 June UN offered truce, but Israel ordered to destroy every Arab agriculture fields. Except the Druze , they were treated differently.

Secondly, the Zionists went to the Druze areas and forced them to join the army and promised them to have free access in their field if they let their sons to sign the militarily contracts. This action is to destroy the Arab Liberation Army in 1948 and to stab in the back of Arab unity ( Ya' acov Shimoni ) .

Thirdly, Israel established "al .Yawm " a Zionist newspaper and Israeli Arabic broadcasting channel to destabilize the international political situation in Syria through the Druzes . This is another kind of back stab.

In 1977 The Zionists built a new educational system for the Druze separating them from the Arabs. The curriculum fostered Druze particularism and guided them for the Israeli labor market. Especially for the security services. the Israelis succeeded to shift the Druze from agriculture to security services . In the 1990s only 1% of the Druze are working in agriculture because of the new educational system for the Druze. The Israelis knew from the Druze history that agriculture is a tool for self-sufficiency. So, they wanted to Druze to be subjected to the state of Israel. (10)

How Israel reshaped the Druze religious traditions:

A suggestion from the Knesset in 1949 to grant the Druze independent legal status in religious matters to separate them from Muslims. Consequently, they established a religious shrine in order to use it as political tool and symbol of new identity.

In 1949 August, the Israeli Ministry of religions guidelines for the Druze :

"When dealing with people who live in the Middle east , one should always take into account [that] there is no difference between religion and politics .... Take, for example, the shrine of Nabi Shu'ayb , which lies in Israel .... This gives Israel an extraordinary tool by which to prove , both religiously and politically , its attitude towards the Druze community , which makes it a primary instrument for propaganda to prepare ground for potential developments in the near future among the Druze .... During pilgrimage time next year, it should again provide facilities in order to celebrate the feast with even more honor and splendor (participation of the Minister of Religions and other dignitaries, military parade of the Druze IDF Units , etc .. " (11)

How the shrine have been politicized for the Zionists political interests:

Israelis tried to gathered the maximum commonalities between the Jews and Druze . Firstly, they used the shrine of Nabi Shuayb in Galilee as a place for the first swearing ceremony to make sure that the Druze will take oath and stay loyal to the Zionist state. As a result of that, Israelis invented the idea of the " CHILDREN OF SHUAYB" are welcomed by the " SONS OF ISREAL " . But, Israelis had a problem with Tarif family who used to own the shrine. Until now Tarif family still refused to cooperate with the Zionists. However, the Zionists found another way to satisfy the Shayk Amin Tarif by allocating money to build new buildings around the shrine. Therefore, these economic investments of the shrine went positively to the Shaykh Amin Tarif as a guardian of the shrine. This action created complex independence between the Zionists and the Druze . Subsequently, Pilgrimages to the shrine became the main took for legitimizing his leadership in the new state. In the other hand, the Israelis needed the pilgrimage to encourage Druze new-particularism . In 1954 the pilgrimage to the shrine of Nabi Shiab become an official an official holiday as well as " Id Al Fitr " and " Id Al Ghadir " . These official holidays lasted for quite some time until the Zionists stopped recognizing " Id Al Ghadir " and " Id Al Fitr" to dissimilate them from other Muslims. (12)

Creating the Nationality of the Druze:

Bechor-Shalom Sheetrit the formal Israeli minister recommended the Israeli government in the end of 1948 .

He said: " I think that we must foster among the Druzes an awareness that they are a separate community vis a vis the Muslim community " (13)

The Zionists used the same methods of the French when the separated the Alwais from the Sunni majority in 1936. Leon Blum the former French prime minister declared that the Alawi people are different from the Sunni Muslims.

The Druze tried to stop the compulsory conscription law in 1956 by Skaykh Jaber . As a result, protests spread among the Druze areas against the deal between the Zionist states and the chiefs. Therefore, the Druze became the only minority subject to compulsory conscription. It's clear that the Israelis took the Druze nags into consideration. So, they started to courteous the atmosphere by giving the Druze community a full recognition as religious community and created a new ID cards for them. Replaced by Druze nationality separating them from the Arab nationality. Although , some Druze protested against the new invented nationality in their ID cards . This action by the Zionists divided the Druze into 2 categories. 1- " positive force "and 2- " negative force". The positive forced concept were explained by the Israeli officer " Giora Zayd " illustrating that the positive and the negative forces is to differentiate between those who collaborate and who refuses to collaborate with the Israeli security services . The reason for this , is to deprive the negative force from any kind of social standing or political role. (14)

Druze particularism as a mirror image of Jewish nation :

Jews and Druze claim to be persecuted minorities in all over the world . Hence , the Druze and the Jews does not have problems with each other through history . The Zionists took a good advantage to built good relationship with the Druze . Yitzhak Ben-Zvi made a theme in 1950s:

" [T]his nation _ the Druze _ has special features and a special destiny that set it apart from other nations . In certain ways , it is similar to the Jewish nation because of a fundamental characteristic . Here, too, religion and nationalism are so united ..... But there is another side which highlights the similarity between the Jews and the Druzes , and that is the destiny of the two nations _ a destiny of minorities . The Druze too suffered persecution at the hands of [a] majority ..... All these [factors] have brought the Druze closer to the destiny of the Jewish minorities and made it possible for them to understand the psychology of the persecutes Jewish minority. " (15)

Another statement by Hiam Blanc who talked about the behavioral pattern of the Druze in his articles regardless if they are considered Arabs or not . He is saying it doesn't matter if they are Arabs or not as long they have the mentality of revenge, because they used to be like the Jews in terms of persecution. In other words " the Israelis should use the VENGEANCE of the Druze against Muslims and to stab of the back of Arabism . That's why the Jews and the Druze understand each other very well . Therefore , Israel succeeded to use the Druze minority for their interests.

Hiam Blanc said : " As it stands [this question is] unanswerable , since the term '' Arabs '' is used loosely to cover a multitude of meanings ..... In a cultural sense , however , the Druze are not only '' Arabs '' but , as were , '' Arabs with a vengeance '' ...... The distinctiveness of the Druze is nevertheless undoubted, and its origins must be sought in their religion . [ The community ] was born and grew in a hostile environment ; it therefore adopted the principle of Taqqiyya , a sort of protective coloring with religious affiliations , to be '' Christian with the Christians , and Muslim with Muslims '' ..... The most recent instance of this outward assimilation may be seen in present-day Israel . " (16)

TAQIYYA weapon:

Aharon Layish defines TAQIYYA as ; " flattery , smooth talk , protecting , deceit , falsehood , concealment of truth , religious duty , and ability of adaptation "

Druze have used TAQIYYA as a behavioral pattern in everywhere including marriage laws , inheritance , even polygamy and temporary marriage . This practice have been manifested in many historical occasions such when the Druze participated in the battle of Marj Dabiq in 1516 during the Othman conquest of Syria . Also Druze used Taqiyya with the Arabs and adopted Arab Nationalism . The third example is with the Alawis in Syria . The Druze are with the strongest always except for Faisal Al Qasim who stood against the Syrian regime from the first day . Maybe because he works in Al Jazeera channel . Therefore , The aim of using Taqiyya is to survive and have more merits from the authority . With the Muslims , Muslim ; with the Christian , Christian ; with the Jews , Jew , and so on " (17)

Reincarnation functions:

The reincarnation plays a significant role in maintaining the sect unity and identity among the Druze . Its more as a social phenomenon that enhances sect unity and identity . Its creates a bridge within the sect that connects individuals and tribes , to create a wide network that bring the neighborhoods together . It is a long term strategic plan for the Druze to encourage membership , share feelings and viewpoints , decreasing the divisions as a result of political status between the countries , and connecting the lower class with the upper class .

For example ; An article by Anne Bennett who interviewed some Druze to study the reincarnation doctrine among the Druze . One of the woman living in far villages with lower economic class claimed to be the reincarnated person . She reduces the pain of their sons . and she got benefited economically from their supposed sons . Even one of the Druze jokes said " don't worry , I will die, then I will be reincarnated " . So , reincarnation brings with it various social consequences . It brings together members of unrelated families who used to not know each other . Therefore , because of the reincarnation , Druze tribes built a good and coherent community with each other . (18)

Conclusion:

To solve the minority political dilemma in any state is by understand the minorities in terms of their religion, culture , history , heritage and social classes . Integrating minorities in the bulk of the majority is not an easy task , unless if the majority helped the minority to have free access in their economy , education and preserving their dignity . Minorities should not be the victims of the democracy neither dictatorship . Many Minorities ruled the majorities, and many majorities ruled the minorities , but it depends on how mutual understanding can occur between two sides . One side cannot solve the political dilemma , because no one can clap with one hand . The tyranny for both of the minorities and the majorities are not acceptable . Every community should respect other cultures . Justice is the only way to solve any political dilemma . Therefore , I can finally say : " Love for your human brother what you love for yourself " .

resources :

1- الفصل الثاني:- المجتمع الإسرائيلي – مجتمع متعدد التصدعات

( المحرر- منير عطار, المحرر العلمي:- دكتور تسفي تسميرت)

كتاب الدروز, لماكس أوبيهايم , دار الوراق , الطبعة الثالثة , لبنان 2-

Journal articles from JSTOR :

3- Anti-Druze Feeling

4- Druze maqāmāt (Shrines) in Israel From Ancient to Newly-Invented Tradition

5- Intellectuals in Israeli Druze Society

6- Reincarnation, Sect Unity, and Identity among the Druze

7- Reshaping Druze Particularism in Israel

Online books :

8- Origins of the Druze People and Religion , by Philip K. Hitti

http://www.sacred-texts.com/asia/odpr/index.htm

9- Druze & Jews in Israel: A Shared Destiny?

http://books.google.com.qa/books?id=1DescF3BhLIC&pg=PA186&lpg=PA186&dq=Druze+race+Israel&source=bl&ots=c9HEN0SA6G&sig=eeo-sS8A-yC-lJuhJN0O5bPkD9A&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4-C_Ut-4HsPQygP79ILIAw&ved=0CIkBEOgBMAo#v=onepage&q=Arab&f=false

10- A History of the Druzes

http://books.google.com.qa/books?id=usEUXYnYWxAC&pg=PA20&lpg=PA20&dq=Druze+race+Israel&source=bl&ots=4InKbf83sB&sig=jW0E9yl8WSmmIM4ALbMWm34X86o&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4-C_Ut-4HsPQygP79ILIAw&ved=0CGYQ6AEwBQ#v=snippet&q=race&f=false

11- Good Arabs: The Israeli Security Agencies and the Israeli Arabs, 1948-1967

http://books.google.com.qa/books?id=K7bfI3GUpAMC&pg=PA172&lpg=PA172&dq=Sheikh+Jaber+Druze+protests&source=bl&ots=KLmFPgNj9z&sig=CvDsfUj6vN7XZzEdZjtF8EV1lhY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=td7CUorEPO_8yAOImoDACQ&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Sheikh%20Jaber%20Druze%20protests&f=false

Druze official websites :

12- http://www.mouwahidoundruze.gov.lb/maarefl.php?id=2

13- http://brainsunion.com/%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%A8/%D9%85%D9%86_%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A8_%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%88%D8%AD%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%86_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%91_%D9%81%D9%8A_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%82_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A

Citations :

(1):

For Druze In Syria and Lebanon

http://books.google.com.qa/books?id=ub8aAQAAMAAJ&q=%22The+Druze+are+an+ancient+sect+within+Islam.+The+Golan+ones+are+part+of+a+Syrian+Druze+community+that+numbers+700000.+Another+250000+live+in+Lebanon+and+about+100000+in+Israel+proper%22&dq=%22The+Druze+are+an+ancient+sect+within+Islam.+The+Golan+ones+are+part+of+a+Syrian+Druze+community+that+numbers+700000.+Another+250000+live+in+Lebanon+and+about+100000+in+Israel+proper%22&hl=en

Druze In Israel

http://www.cbs.gov.il/shnaton61/st02_02.pdf

(2): A History of the Druzes, Volume 1, p 10

(3): كتاب الدروز ص 45 , http://www.druzesect.com/?page_id=42

(4): http://www.druzesect.com/?page_id=42

(5): This lady dragged her husband some fifty years ago from a comfortable home in London and established herself in a Druze village, ‘Ayn-‘Unūb, a few miles from Beirūt in order to prove her theory. See J. T. Parfit, Among the Druzes of Lebanon and Bashan (London, 1917), p. 33.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/asia/odpr/odpr07.htm#fn_28

(6): كتاب الدروز , الغلاف الخلفي