Skip to main content

Israeli wind farm project unites Jewish settlers, Golan Druze

In the Golan Heights, Israeli settlers and Druze have joined forces to oppose a wind farm project.
20190812_094351.jpg

Emil Masud is an Arab Druze who identifies as “forever Syrian,” and Ofer Megged is an Israeli settler in the contested Golan Heights. They might seem unlikely partners, but a fight to save the environment against Israeli big business has thrust Masud, a local farmer, and Megged, a physics professor, into a burgeoning alliance that is shifting mutual perceptions between the Golan’s Druze and Jews.

“Our lands will be destroyed," Masud told Al-Monitor at his family home in Masa'de. "We cannot allow this disaster to happen. Druze, Jews, [there is] no difference. We have joined hands against a common enemy to stop it.”

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.