In March members of Syria’s Druze community entered Israel to visit a Druze shrine [JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images]
Israel cancelled an initiative aimed at allowing the entry of Syrian Druze workers into the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Wednesday.
This followed a last-minute decision made by Israel’s government, according to Times of Israel citing Israeli public broadcaster Kan, although no reason was given for the cancellation.
On 9 March Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that the country would allow Syrian Druze workers to enter the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights for work purposes in a bid to strengthen ties with the community in southern Syria.
The plan was drawn up by Israeli Major General Ghassan Alian, who himself is from the Druze community within Israel.
Alongside the announcement, around 60 clerics from the Druze community in southern Syria entered into Israel on invitation from the Israeli Druze community to visit the tomb of Nabi Shuaib, one of the most important figures of the Druze faith.
Israel had previously attempted to court Syria’s Druze minority following the downfall of the Assad regime in December, with Israeli officials saying they would “protect” the community if any harm came to them
However, although tension has appeared between the Syrian Druze community and the new authorities in Damascus, the community has overwhelmingly rejected Israeli statements of support.
