overview of the Druze-Arab religious and ethnic minority in Israel
Factsheet
الدروز الإسرائيليون
דְּרוּזִים יִשְׂרְאֵלִים
Total population c. 143,000 (2019)
Regions with significant populations
الدروز الإسرائيليون
דְּרוּזִים יִשְׂרְאֵלִים
Total population c. 143,000 (2019)
Regions with significant populations
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Druze_in_Israel
Druze in Israel - Wikipedia
November 9, 2025 - As is the case for the Circassian ... Druzism, the Druze ethnic religion, developed out of Isma'ilism, a branch of Shia Islam, but the Druze do not consider themselves Muslims....
Pew Research Center
pewresearch.org › short reads › religion › religion & politics › 5 facts about israeli druze, a unique religious and ethnic group
5 facts about Israeli Druze, a unique religious and ethnic group | Pew Research Center
July 21, 2025 - Israeli Druze make up roughly 2% of the country’s population and live mostly in the northern regions of the Galilee, Carmel and the Golan Heights. Their tradition dates back to the 11th century and incorporates elements of Islam, Hinduism and even classical Greek philosophy.
Videos
12:37
Why Does Israel Protect the Druze? - YouTube
The more you learn about who the Druze people are, the more ...
25:35
The Deal With Israel That Changed the Druze Forever | Explained ...
01:40:28
Who are the Druze? - YouTube
The Druze's relationship with Israel is referred to as a “covenant of blood” or “brit damim" #Unpackedin75 #israelat75 #israelhistory | TikTok
08:37
Israeli Druze | Israel Phenomenology | Unpacked - YouTube
Jewish Virtual Library
jewishvirtuallibrary.org › history-and-overview-of-the-israeli-druze
History & Overview of the Israeli Druze
It was frequently mentioned in historical sources from the thirteenth century onward, noting its many springs, flourishing gardens, orchards, and small Jewish community, which has been present there almost continuously since the Second Temple period. In and near the village are significant sites for Druze and Jews, including a restored synagogue dating back to the Roman Period.
Refworld
refworld.org › reference › countryrep › mrgi › 2018 › en › 64600
World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Israel : Druze | Refworld
April 15, 2025 - Druze are ethnically Arab and Arabic speaking, but many do not consider themselves Palestinian. Their monotheistic religion incorporates many beliefs from Islam, Judaism and Christianity, and is also influenced by Greek philosophy and Hinduism.
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Druze
Druze - Wikipedia
3 weeks ago - The only early Arab historian who mentions the Druze is the eleventh century Christian scholar Yahya of Antioch, who clearly refers to the heretical group created by ad-Darazī, rather than the followers of Hamza ibn 'Alī. As for Western sources, Benjamin of Tudela, the Jewish traveler who ...
AJC
ajc.org › news › jews-worldwide-should-stand-by-the-druze-community-in-israel
Jews Worldwide Should Stand By the Druze Community in Israel | AJC
August 5, 2024 - It is well-respected, admired for its loyalty and courage. Similarly to the Jewish communities in the US that make approximately 2% of the population, the Druze are approximately 1.6% of Israeli society.
Quora
quora.com › Are-Druze-Muslims-or-Jews
Are Druze Muslims or Jews? - Quora
The Druze are Druze. The Druze religion is RELATED to both Judaism and Islam - we think. One thing we do know, is that the Druze religion is gnostic, in the sense that - they don’t talk about it to outsiders.
The Conversation
theconversation.com › solving-the-1-000-year-old-mystery-of-druze-origin-with-a-genetic-sat-nav-68550
Solving the 1,000-year-old mystery of Druze origin with a genetic sat nav
September 29, 2025 - The Druze were first recorded by the 12th century Jewish traveller Benjamin of Tudela who described them as fearless, mountain-dwelling warriors who favoured the Jews.
Quora
quora.com › What-is-the-Jewish-view-of-the-Druze-religion
What is the Jewish view of the Druze religion? - Quora
Answer (1 of 4): It's basically quite simple: The Druze, or whatever you want to call them—I mean, they call themselves "the Unified Ones" ("al-mu'wahidun")—are non-Jews from a Jewish perspective.
Al Jazeera
aljazeera.com › news › explainer
Who are the Druze? A look at the community following a deadly attack | Explainer News | Al Jazeera
The community’s service to Israel notwithstanding, the Druze were among the fiercest critics of the 2018 nation-state law. Druze rallied in Tel Aviv in their tens of thousands to denounce a law that defines Israel as the “nation state” of the Jewish people, arguing that it relegated their community to the status of second-class citizens.
Published August 1, 2024
AJC
ajc.org › news › who-are-the-druze-and-why-is-israel-defending-them-in-syria
Who Are the Druze, and Why Is Israel Defending Them in Syria? | AJC
July 24, 2025 - Israel’s Druze population numbers around 140,000 and is one of the country’s most engaged non-Jewish minorities. They live in northern Israel—in places like Daliyat al-Karmel and Isfiya—and in the Golan Heights.
Aeon
aeon.co › society › demography and migration › solving the mystery of the druze – a 2,000-year-old odyssey
Solving the mystery of the Druze – a 2,000-year-old odyssey | Aeon Ideas
April 8, 2021 - Much like the Ashkenazic Jews, the origins of the Druze people and religion have fascinated historians, linguists and geneticists. For nearly a millennium, travellers and their neighbours have wondered and hypothesised about the beginnings of this enduring people, and their exclusive religion in the mountains of Israel, Syria and Lebanon. Benjamin of Tudela, the Jewish ...
Reddit
reddit.com › r/druze › do the druze actually descend from christians and not muslims?
r/druze on Reddit: Do the Druze actually descend from Christians and not Muslims?
December 27, 2024 -
The Druze despite being considered its own ethno-religion, are often said to be an off-shoot of Ismaili Islam. But how true is that?
According to genetic studies, the Druze are nearly identical to Levantine Christians, and don’t seem to be mixed with Arabs like most Muslims. Does that mean Druze overwhelmingly descend from Levantine Christians who joined the Druze faith when it was allowed to convert, rather than Muslims joining the faith?
Top answer 1 of 2
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You're asking two different questions here. In terms of Tawheed as a theology being an offshoot of Ismaili Islam, it's true, the Ismaili roots of Druzism are very obvious. In terms of our genetic origins and makeup, no one really knows, however genetic testing shows that as a population overall we're the same as the other Levantine populations in Syria and Lebanon AFAIK. The Tanukhids for example were an Arab tribe that migrated from southern Arabia to the Levant in the 2nd century, they were Christianized, then converted to Islam and finally their Emirs of the Chouf mountains converted to Druzism. They were the biggest Arab tribe that joined the Druze call. A big issue with this is that our history wasn't really documented until the 15th-16th century, so no firsthand sources exist about the proto-Druze and the early Druze. Oral traditions differ by agenda, people make a big deal about our fair skin complexion but it's not so different from your average northern Syrian/Lebanese, so God only knows where we really originate from, if I had to bet, I'd just say a mish mash of local Levantine populations.
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The question is a bit nuanced. Firstly it is an ethnoreligion, which has ethnic heritage as far back as the time of Jethro, Moshe's (Moses) father in law. Secondly, the Druze which again is ethnic AND religious group---is Abrahamic... It is not Christian or Jewish or Muslim; the ethnoreligion element is similar to Judaism, but one key difference. It is a closed religion. There are no conversions in our out of the tribe (about one million worldwide). They are also not open to giving information about their traditions to outsiders. For western people to have a relatable comparison.. think similar to Amish in the sense of the separation from worldly things as much as possible. Not all are as strict, but that is the essence of things and why the religion is closed. The religion itself only became organized around 1100 current era, I want to say in Egypt under the caliphate at the time. Likely why they are so secretive about their faith as well. While it is not Christian, Jewish or Muslim, it does recognize key elements and figures from other Abrahamic religions. I will say, from what I know of them, they have a belief of reincarnation similar to Judaism, no hell or heaven .... Not in the way Christians believe. In Judaism, we call it Gilgulim Neshama "cycle of the soul". They have similar known traditions to all 3 religions, but what I do also know, is that their most central "prophet" seems to be Jesus, if that helps Christians out with an answer... The closest thing I can give anyway lol. He's seen as a Prophet to them, but a highly, HIGHLY regarded one. It's a layered question with an even more layered answer than I can even give without writing a book. I'm half Arab and I'm also half Mizrahi (Persian) Jewish and religiously Jewish. Ethnoreligions are a tricky thing to explain to people, because it's very much nuanced with many variables. When you're dealing with ethnoreligions it gets very complex, especially when the official religion wasn't cemented until so much later than the others. It doesn't make Druze religion an "offshoot" religion either, which I feel is important to say. I've heard Muslims suggest they're an offshoot of Shia, similar to Alawite, which is not correct. Being in a certain culture, which had certain traditions with regards to treatment of other religions and a history of forced conversions, to suggest that because a culture developed under a theocracy, is a direct part of that culture is a bit reductive. There are many people who are often Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and even Greek you who discover that despite being Christian, their DNA suggests Sephardic Jewish lineage in their profile. Same with Arabs who discover Mizrahi Jewish dna. Forced conversion can cause these surprises later on down the road. I think there are CULTURAL influences, but that their religion is unique and being a closed religion does murky things, but I respect it and the Druze people. I will also say, for my Christian friends. An interesting thing I recently read was that, upon studying the samples from the alleged burial shroud along with the alleged remains of John the Baptist, they were found to have DRUZE mitochondrial DNA, which suggests that, in the time of Jesus, on his mother's side... When the conversion in Judaism was not as strict and when Druze didn't disallow conversion, that at some point, his mother's family had married a member of the Druze tribe. He was still obviously Jewish, a Rabbi, but I thought that was really interesting. What we know is that Druze can be found as far away from the Middle East as Venezuela. So, if you have Hispanic lineage... Not only do you have a 25% chance of having Sephardic Jewish DNA , but also Druze is a possibility. Thought that was a pretty neat facto!
New Lines Magazine
newlinesmag.com › home › the balancing act for israeli druze
The Balancing Act for Israeli Druze - New Lines Magazine
July 26, 2025 - But despite their efforts to prove their loyalty, the state of Israel has for years implemented discriminatory policies that undermine the rights and status of Druze citizens, most notably by denying them permits to build homes on their own land. The passage in 2018 of the controversial Nation-State Law effectively made all non-Jewish minorities second-class citizens.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/askhistorians › what is the history behind israel and the druze?
r/AskHistorians on Reddit: What is the history behind Israel and the Druze?
June 25, 2025 -
My understanding is that the Druze in Israel join the army, unlike other Arabs. And I've seen an interview where Druze Israelis were expressing very anti-Palestinian/pro zionist opinions. What is the history behind this? Were the Druze so persecuted that they somehow saw zionists as saviors?
Top answer 1 of 2
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The Druze religion is an offshoot of Islam with unique practices, many of which are kept secret from non-Druze. For certain other Muslim groups this ethno-religion is blasphemous to their Islam, and therefore necessitates violence. Druze communities are insular by nature, which one might argue contributes to the divide between them and other Muslim sects, although they are not themselves a separatist movement. Most of the Israeli-Druze population was a result of war in 1967, with Syria joining in the invasion to recolonize Israel and instead being driven further back, losing control of the Golan Heights. This region had the largest Druze population and the new borders messily cut around these villages until the 1981 annexation. During the interim a number of people fled to other parts of Syria that were further from the conflict. For those remaining in land under Israeli control, the prospect of cooperation was complicated by the potential for a peace deal that handed the land back to the Syrian regime. The Syrian regime maintained economic ties with these villages as well. However over time these programs would decrease because of Syria’s internal issues and Druze became more incentivized to participate in Israel’s growing economy. Dr Salim Brik of Haifa University attributes the main driver of Druze-Israeli relations is the Syrian Civil War which both decreased the perception that the Golan would be handed over to Syria, and in Dr Yusri Hasan of Shalem College’s view also increased the perception that the next regime would be more hostile to Druze while also not being able to offer the same economic and educational prospects as Israel. This mix of factors changed the perception of Druze that accepted Israeli citizenship and eventually boycotts of such individuals became rare/non-existent. And over time more and more Druze began applying for naturalization, with now roughly 20% holding Israeli citizenship. Unlike other Arab/Muslim groups, Druze citizens of Israel are conscripted just like Jewish citizens. Druze have distinguished themselves in combat and there have been Druze IDF officers since the 1950s. This service alongside Jewish countrymen has fostered integration into broader Israeli society. The Druze, like other Arab/Muslim communities in Israel, have also seen an increase in embracing the Israeli national identity since the October 7th attack and resulting war has included violence against their communities by the Iranian-MB axis. Most notably for the Druze community was the Hezbollah strike on a soccer field in Majdal Shams, resulting in the deaths of 12 children. It should be noted that the Druze religion does not have the same views on Shaheed (martyrdom) that is common in the region, and instead place a higher value on the immortal Druze soul. The continued degradation of Syria led to the rise of Syrian-Druze separatists who envisioned a Druze state. This is still popular among Syrian-Druze, some Israeli-Druze, and some Israeli officials/politicians. Recently as Assad’s regime fell to Islamist forces that are hostile toward Druze, the idea of uniting the Druze under Israeli annexation has gained favor, with several Druze villages unanimously calling on Israeli forces to maintain their presence. In the village of Hader, a Druze patriarch with views skeptical of Israel delivered a speech stating: “If we have to choose, we will choose the lesser evil. And even if it’s considered evil to ask to be annexed to the [Israeli] Golan, it’s a much lesser evil than the evil coming our way. That evil might take our women, might take our daughters, they might take our houses. We asked to be annexed to the Golan to preserve our dignity. We ask in the name of all the surrounding area to join our people in the Golan, and to live with freedom and dignity like our people are living [in Israel]. And despite being different peoples, the treatment of other minority groups in regions more dominated by HTS and ISIS (such as Alawites, Kurds, Yazidi, and Zoroastrians) has been seen as further indication that the Druze would be unsafe under the control of either Islamist faction. Ultimately it appears to come down to a need for self-preservation. Israel is a functional secular democracy that provides educational and economic opportunities while Syria is unstable and dominated by racial/religious violence against minority groups. While opinions of Israeli society vary greatly among the Druze, they seem more or less united in believing there is no future as a part of Syria.
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Unpacked
unpacked.media › home › meet the israeli druze
Meet the Israeli Druze - Unpacked
March 12, 2024 - The Druze are a tiny minority in the Jewish state, and the only community to share a so-called “blood covenant” with Israel’s Jews. But in 2018, the Israeli government passed a controversial basic law, known as the nation-state law, that ...
Medium
daoudkuttab.medium.com › druze-in-israel-discover-that-they-are-not-equal-to-jews-7aee167835f1
Druze in Israel discover that they are not equal to Jews despite army service | by Daoud Kuttab | Medium
August 2, 2018 - Ever since the creation of Israel, the Arab Druze community in Israel were told a lie. They were duped by Jewish Zionists to believe that they are very much similar to Jews. They were hammered to believe that they are like Jews, both a religion and a nationality.
Israel National News
israelnationalnews.com › news › 140251
MK Kara: Druze Descend from Jews | Israel National News
October 25, 2010 - 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 ...
EBSCO
ebsco.com › research-starters › ethnic-and-cultural-studies › druze
Druze | Research Starters | EBSCO Research
The Druze are a distinct religious community that originated as an offshoot of Islam during the 10th century, though they incorporate elements from various faiths, including Judaism and Christianity.
Encyclopedia Britannica
britannica.com › philosophy & religion › religious movements & organizations
Druze | History, Religion, People, Syria, Israel, Lebanon, Community, Arab, & Facts | Britannica
2 weeks ago - Druze soldiers have since fought for Israel in every Arab-Israeli war. They are the only Arab group conscripted into the Israel Defense Forces, and they participate in Israel’s border security and diplomatic corps. In July 2018, when the Israeli Knesset enacted a law with constitutional weight that enshrined Israel as a Jewish state, the Druze led the backlash; they claimed the law made them second-class citizens and was a betrayal to their dedication and service to the country.