Tag Archive for Druze

| July 30, 2012
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Court Order Lifted: Golan Druze Spied for Syria

Druze resident from the Golan Heights has been charged with aiding Syria by turning over intel on IDF patrols & activities.

By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

 

 

A Golan Heights Druze resident has been charged with aiding Syria by turning over information on IDF patrols and giving Syria equipment for wiretapping. A gag order on the arrest was lifted Monday.

Golan Druze resident Juri indicted for spying

Golan Druze resident Juri indicted for spying
Israel news photo: Israel Security Agency

Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and Golan Heights police arrested Iyad Jamad Assad Juhri of the Druze city of Majdal Shams, located adjacent to the Syrian border. He has admitted to gathering information  for Syrian intelligence and to transferring to Syria equipment that might be used for wiretapping. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| July 28, 2012
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Syria’s Assad loosing support from the Golan Heights Druze

Druze families in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights are divided between supporters of the revolt and backers of the regime.

By The Associated Press

 

The raging civil war just across the cease-fire line in Syria is posing an uncomfortable political choice for the Druze people in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights.

Do they maintain their traditional loyalty to the government of Bashar Assad, whose family has vowed to take back the territory? Or should they support the burgeoning Arab revolt against Assad’s harsh rule?

In the shifting sands of the Middle East, the Druze again find themselves a people caught in the middle. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| July 21, 2012
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Israel’s Member of Knesset Kara: Druze are Descended from Jews

The secret is out, says Druze MK : “The Druze are actually descended from the Jewish people, and genetic evidence proves it.”

By David Lev

 

For centuries, practitioners of the Druze religion took care not to reveal any information about the nature of their beliefs, rituals, and traditions. Under penalty of communal ostracism, or worse, members of Druze communities have refrained from telling any outsider more than basic details about their religion.

But now, the secret is out. Druze MK Ayoub Kara (Likud) says members of the Druze communities believe in many of the same things that Jews do. And that’s not surprising, he adds, since the Druze are actually descended from the Jewish people – and he says he can bring genetic evidence to prove it. Continue Reading »

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| June 6, 2012
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Integration at Israel’s embassy in Norway

Druze professor appointed ambassador to Norway; Christian-Arab diplomat will serve as his deputy

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman may be trying to shake off Israel’s racist image in Norway by a recent round of diplomatic nominations. Druze professor Naim Araidiwill be appointed ambassador to Norway and Christian-Arab George Deek is to be his deputy, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Wednesday.

Naim Araidi Photo: Courtesy of the Araidi family

Naim Araidi Photo: Courtesy of the Araidi family

Israel suffers from a particularly bad reputation in the Scandinavian country. A recent poll initiated by Israel’s Foreign Ministry reveals alarming details: Most Norwegians consider Israelis as racist, aggressive, extreme in their views and anti-peace. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| April 23, 2012
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Druze professor appointed ambassador to New Zealand

FM Lieberman chooses Hebrew Literature Professor Naim Araidi to represent Israel in New Zealand

 

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has appointed Druze Professor for Hebrew Literature Naim Araidi as Israel’s ambassador to New Zealand, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Sunday. This is the first time a member of the Druze community is appointed an ambassador in a political appointment.

Naim Araidi Photo: Courtesy of the Araidi family

Naim Araidi Photo: Courtesy of the Araidi family

Born in Kfar Maghar, Araidi, 62, wrote his doctorate on the poetry of Uri Zvi Grinberg. He gives regular classes at the Haifa and Bar-Ilan universities, serves as the dean at the Arab Academic College for Education and is a member of the Sapir Prize board. Continue Reading »

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| April 18, 2012
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Druse in Majdal Shams rally for Syria’s Assad

Chanting “the army and the people are with Assad“ around 200 people marched in Druse village of Majdal Shams.

Druse rally in Majdal Shams for Assad - Photo: Ben Hartman

Druse rally in Majdal Shams for Assad - Photo: Ben Hartman

Syrian President Bashar Assad may be a pariah in most parts of the world, but in parts of Israel the autocrat still has a diehard following, at least at first glance.

Around 200 people, chanting “the army and the people are with Assad,” marched around the central square of the Druse village of Majdal Shams on Monday, in a rally held to mark Syrian Independence Day and to show support for the Assad regime, whose forces have murdered thousands in a 13- month violent uprising.

Continue Reading »
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| April 3, 2012
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Lieberman to propose new Druze village

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said while touring the north that he would find a solution to the housing shortage faced by the Druze sector, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Monday.

Avigdor Lieberman Photo: Reuters

Avigdor Lieberman - Photo by Reuters

Lieberman met with the representatives of the Druze and Circassian councils and announced that he intends submit a proposal for the government’s consideration to build a new town for the Druze community.

According to the minister, his proposal will mandate the World Zionist Organization’s Settlement Division to devise a plan for the construction of the town, which is expected to house at least 500 families. The measure would be financed by the State’s long-term initiative to invest in Druze and Circassian settlement. Continue Reading »

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| March 8, 2012
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First Druze kibbutz members say they’re ‘enveloped with love’

Haza and Nibal Tafesh, originally from a Galilee village, get warm welcome on southern kibbutz.

 

A couple originally from a Galilee village made history last week by becoming the first Druze accepted as members of a kibbutz.

The couple, Haza and Nibal Tafesh, have been living on Kibbutz Elifaz in the southern Arava region since 2007, after starting out in the Druze village of Beit Jann. Last week the kibbutz voted by a large majority to accept the couple as full members.

Tafesh says he and his wife fell in love with Kibbutz Elifaz on their first day there. “We were captivated by the place and we integrated very well.

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