Hamas War

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Between A Rock and A Hard Place--The Druse

Last night, I found myself watching the Israeli Channel 1 TV talk-show, which was about some violence in a Druse Village. The Druse were referring to some major police action, which they claimed was a use of unnecessary force.

The Druse really are in a difficult position. They're not Arab. They're not Jewish. They're not Moslem nor Christian. They serve in the Israeli Army, in difficult positions, and they are killed as Israeli soldiers. In a sense, nobody really trusts them completely, because they're not part of anything other than Druse society. The young Druse are angry.

Finally I found out the background of the story:


Peki'in Aftermath: Jewish Hostage and Arson Victim Speak
As calls for an inquiry and the firing of the police chief are made, the officer held hostage and rabbi who had his home torched in Peki’in speak.more

4 comments:

Cosmic X said...

The Druze are Arabs in language, culture and mentality. There religion differentiates them from other Arabs.

Batya said...

cos' thanks for the clarification. My only real contact with Druze was when son #1 was in Alyn and there was a Druze boy in his room; there was also a Muslim. The PR there was so stupid not to make a fuss about it.
well the Druze kid's uncle was a top Israeli athlete, tug of war, I think, also army etc.

Anonymous said...

The Druze are apparently self-forbidden by religion to rule, so they are always going to be political 'followers'. And usually, this means following the current 'power' or the stronger 'power'. Today, it is still us Jews. Though if we continue to get weaker, maybe they will realize that we are doomed and the Arabs will be taking over so they will change their alliance.

The Druse are protesting the fact that one cellphone company installed a [hidden] cell/antenna inside a Jewish chicken koop. I think the residents of Givataim also protested a cell antenna. Cell antennas have been torched around the country, btw, nothing new.

But our gung-ho police guys showed up in their black stormtrooper uniforms loaded for bear.

The Druze also threw rocks are MADA ambulances.

The police also gave in to the hostage takers.

I think that this whole situation was a bad showing on all sides. No one was the 'good guy' here and we all looked stupid.

Batya said...

Good points.
Druse youth aren't as pro-Israel as their elders; they feel more "Arab."