It's the first time in five decades that Druze leaders have crossed from Syria into Israeli-controlled territory to visit Druze religious sites and communities here. The buffer zo

People gather on the day Israeli Druze leader Sheik Mowafaq Tarif and around 100 Syrian Druze religious elders, in the first Druze delegation from Syria just after 1973 war, visit the Nabi Shuayb Shrine, a holy place for the Druze community, in northern Israel March 14, 2025. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

Dozens of community members will be allowed to enter the country and work in agriculture, and later in factories, with the wokers divided into two groups as part of security considerations

The head of the Druze community in Israel on Thursday hailed plans for the first visit by a Druze religious delegation from Syria in five decades, despite escalating cross-border tensions underscored by an Israeli airstrike on Damascus.

Over half of the roughly 1 million Druze worldwide live in Syria. Most other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel and the Golan Heights, a rocky plateau seized from Syria by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war. Israel’s 1981 annexation of the area is recognized only by the United States, with the rest of the world considering it occupied Syrian territory.

Druze religious elders from Syria visited Israel for the first time in over 50 years, highlighting Israel's support for the community. Despite the visit's religious nature, it carried political weight due to recent regional tensions.

Syrian Druze members expected to visit religious sites in occupied Golan Heights, northern Israel, according to Israeli public broadcaster KAN - Anadolu Ajansı

Syrian Druse pilgrims entered Israel from Syria in a rare visit to a shrine, and were welcomed by the local Druse community.

The Druze sheikhs arrived via buses to the border gate, where they were by their Druze brethren living in Israel.