Syrians in Israeli-Occupied Golan Remain Divided on Assad
While Syrian President Bashar al-Assad enjoys considerable support from Golan Syrians under Israeli occupation, many are speaking up against his rule.
MAJDAL SHAMS, Israel — Israeli military installments line the hillsides of the occupied Golan Heights, the site of several minor flare-ups between Israel and Syria in recent weeks, mostly unintentional stray shelling that has flown into the Israeli side.
The rising tensions highlight the growing rift among some 23,000 Syrian Druze, toiling under an Israeli occupation since 1967, who are finding themselves divided on the enduring violence in Syria. Though traditionally loyal to Damascus, there are a growing number of voices speaking out against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Since the outbreak of the Syrian conflict in March 2011, more than 80,000 people have been killed, according to the UN. Rights groups have denounced both regime forces and rebels for excessive human rights violations.
Understandably, the images of bloodshed saturating the media have provoked strong feelings in the Golan Druze, provoking angry dissent in some and causing others to rally behind the regime.
