A newly formed group of Druze headed by lawyer Kamal Kassem has called for official Israeli annexation of the Golan Heights to enable the 8,000 Druze villagers in the former Syrian territory to be united with Israel’s Druze. “Israel needs new immigrants and pays heavily for their absorption,” Kassem declared. “Here we can have 8,000 new immigrants who would cost the state nothing. They are already absorbed with the Druze of Israel.” Kassem said the Golan Heights Druze community agreed with him. In the situation that prevails, the Golan Druze cannot join the Army or the police force or get other jobs open to Israeli Druze.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
