I will take you to my favourite Kensington Market Druze-owned food shop when you come visit!

I've always had the same question about druze in Israel and those in Golan, esp that I come from a druze family,
it would be a great idea if you can get one of he Israeli to tell us more about that. I belive it is only natural that the Druze in Golan feel loyal to Syria, they are Syrians after all. But the real question is, how do the Druze in Israel view themselves and what makes them more acceptig of the Israeli state?
You see, you really need to find someone to talk about this :)
hope you're feeling better,
A.T.

A post dedicated to me? I am so honored! And with the new and improved URL, no less...that Lisa is on the ball, man.

But for the record, I'd like to say that I don't think you ever lost your sense of humor. :)

I echo you Lisa, the Syrian bride is a must see movie and Hiam Abbas is an incredible actress.

I forgot ... Welcome back. You've been missed :)

Wasn't there an article in Ynet or somewhere else recently about "Zionist" Druze in the Golan who wanted to be relocated in the event that Syria got it back?
Or am I hallucinating?

Nope, you're not hallucinating - the article is here. I had some rather interesting conversations on this subject with Golan Druze when I was up there in August. (Like I said, complicated... ;) ).

This is amazing. I always thought Druze is a branch of Christianity. Wikipedia says it is a branch of Islam, not acknowledged by the mainstream Muslims. Probably, that's why I have thought so. Anyhow, Wikipedia also says there are Druze in Canada (see).

So happy to have you blogging again, Lisa.

"The Syrian Bride" is a fascinating and moving film. They screened it at last year's Israeli Film Festival here in Melbourne, Australia and it was very well-received.

Ok, so next I want to hear the rant about bug.

I was told by Israeli Druz that their religion commands them to be loyal to the countries they are living in. That's why Israeli Druz are loyal to Israel and Syrians to Syria.

What Golan Druz told you? just curious. Try to post something about them.

There are lots of expat Druze living in the US- there's gotta be a blogger in there somewhere!

I recently visited Israel and found that Druze make the best Shawarma. I also hear that the Druze leaders were politically and tactically savvy thus they would always make friends with the winning side. Because of this the average Druze village in Israel is as well maintained as an Israeli one. This also explains the Druze reluctance to take sides in the Israeli/Syrian dispute as they could well end up being treated badly by the loosing side if they pick the loosing team.

Huh, what a coincidence -- I was just up there in the Golan and, being curious, got into a conversation with a cafe owner in Magdal Shams. According to him, the Druze in the Golan are not particularly loyal or disloyal to either Israel OR Syria. They are more about being Druze than about this nationality or that.

What bothers them about the stand-off between Syria and Israel is a more human and immediate concern, namely that families are split. Beyond that -- or such was the impression I got -- they don't want to know from national allegiances.

Okay, just one man's voice, although he claimed to be describing what most people in the town felt. He even showed me his "Travel Document" -- not a passport but a "travel document", a substitute for a passport -- that showed his nationality as "undefined". I asked him if it didn't anger him against Israel that, although he lived on territory that Israel considers to be its own (Israel having annexed the Golan), Israel won't give him a passport. He said no, not really, he doesn't care, he doesn't feel any need to be an Israeli national nor does he feel any need to be a Syrian national.

Anyway, again, wow, what a coincidence. I go to the Golan for the first time in my life (having been to Israel quite a few times), get curious about the Druze and the whole border situation up there, come back to my nice safe (?) home in Europe, go to the Face, and what do I see? An article about the Druze! Cool blog!

Hi I am Canadian Druze and I am happy to hear some of your best friends are Druze. The Druze society in Canadian and the U.S are well linked and like the Jewish people, we are a minority both in the Western world and in the Middle East like the Jews. The Druze and Jews have much in common. I think we are around 20,000 to 40,000 in North America, but it is hard to say due to secrecy. Some of my more recent observations is the continued westernization and the growing trend of the Druze becoming very much neutral in regards to the Arab-Israeli conflict not just within Israel, but globally. The Druze in Lebanon also pretend not to like the Israelis, but in reality Lebanese Druze will be the first to go work and vacation in Israel! :)