A group of Druze Arab villages in southwestern Syria have asked to be part of Israel rather than rebel-held Syria, according to reports and to videos circulating on social media. The Druze Arabs live in the mountainous region of the Levant, in territory that overlaps with Israel, Lebanon, and Syria. They have their own religion, which is roughly one thousand years old, and which is separate from Islam, though it includes elements of the three monotheistic faiths. The Druze tend to be attached to the land rather than to any particular nation, though they are typically loyal citizens of the countries where they reside. In Israel, some Druze Arab communities opted to join the draft for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and many have served with distinction, including in the current war. When Israel took the Golan Heights from Syria in the defensive Six-Day War of 1967, some Druze communities were separated from relatives in neighboring Druze villages in Syria, and could only communicate by shouting across the border fence. There were cases in which brides crossed from Israel into Syria to fulfill arranged marriages. Some Druze in the Golan also declined Israeli citizenship, either out of attachment to their Syrian identity, or for fear of reprisals against Syrian relatives by the Assad regime. Many Druze in Syria now fear that the Syrian rebels, who include radical Islamists and elements of Al Qaeda and the so-called “Islamic State” or ISIS, could harm their communities. Some local Druze communities are taking a rare opportunity of freedom to celebrate the country’s liberation from the Assad regime, which has been celebrated by Druze in Israel and Lebanon as well (especially since Assad’s father, Hafez al-Assad, was responsible for the assassination of Druze leader Kamal Jumblatt in 1977). Others, however, including those that were loyal to the Assad regime, are asking that they be included in Israel rather than a Syria run by radical Islamists. Since the Assad regime fell on Sunday, the IDF has moved into parts of southwestern Syria, including the former demilitarized zone between Israel and Syria, which includes several Druze villages. There are unconfirmed reports that the IDF is operating even outside that area. That is the context in which the local Druze population is asking Israel to stay, and to annex their communities. Amir Tsarfati, December 13: Ahmed Al-Sharaa (rebel leader) says that a morality police will be established in Syria. By the way - if you conduct a survey right now, you will find out that most Gazans want to migrate. They know it's the best solution for them. The only ones who want them to stay are those who want to use them as pawns or human shields in their efforts to destroy Israel. Amir Tsarfati, December 14: Report: Following the fall of the Assad regime, Denmark offers 27,000 euros to every Syrian refugee who leaves its territory. On Sunday, Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gideon Sa’ar, announced that Israel’s embassy in Ireland will close due to the “extreme anti-Israel policy of the Irish government.” In May, Israel recalled its ambassador after Ireland became one of three EU countries that said they would unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state. The Irish government has signaled a disturbing trend of anti-semitism in recent years that saw an uptick following the horrifying Hamas terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians on October 7. In December 2023, Ireland’s City Council, in a unanimous vote, agreed to fly the Palestinian flag over Dublin’s City Hall for seven days. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/12/israel-closes-embassy-dublin-due-extreme-anti-israel/ WASHINGTON, DC — “One must be cautious,” a senior Israeli government official in Jerusalem told ALL ISRAEL NEWS today, but “I’m more optimistic now than before.” Finally, there appears to be real and substantive movement towards a deal that could release several dozen hostages from Gaza, possibly before Christmas. I’ve been communicating with a range of American, Israeli and Arab diplomatic sources. They all tell me that while everything could collapse in an instant, they are increasingly hopeful that a deal is, in fact, increasingly likely. Movement has accelerated since President-elect Donald Trump demanded all the hostages be released by the time he takes office on January 20th, or there will be “all hell to pay.” One major reason for optimism among the officials I’m talking to is that Hamas has begun discussing specific names of specific hostages to be released, something that preceded the last hostage exchange in November 2023 but has never happened since. Right now, it appears that Hamas is prepared to turn over close to three dozen hostages, including women, men over the age of 50, and those who have severe medical problems. Another reason hope is rising is that Hamas is now discussing the names of specific Palestinian prisoners they want to be released from Israeli jails, something that has also not happened since November 2023. Still another reason it appears that a deal is close at hand is that Hamas operatives have compromised on several key issues. While they are insisting on a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, they are no longer demanding that all Israeli military forces leave the Strip and never return. They have also dropped demands that the IDF specifically evacuate the Philadelphi Corridor along the Egyptian-Gaza border. Extensive conversations with diplomatic sources here in Washington, as well as back in Israel and throughout the Arab world, indicate that Hamas feels increasingly desperate. Their top three leaders, Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar, and Mohammed Deif, have all been killed by the IDF. Hamas is nearly completely obliterated. Those who remain appear ready now to strike a deal, giving up some hostages to relieve the IDF’s intense and relentless pressure on them. I’m told there are scant indications that Hamas is ready to completely surrender, give up all the hostages, and ask to leave Gaza for some other country – possibly Libya or Turkey – though that’s still the hope. But if Hamas is ready to give up 30 or 40 hostages now without demanding too high a price, then it appears that Netanyahu may be ready as well. Today, there are 101 Israelis and Americans still held captive in Gaza and Israeli intelligence believes around 60 are still alive.
Druze Arabs Ask to Be Part of Israel, not Rebel-held Syria:
But the war has tended to rally the Druze around Israel, especially after Iranian-backed Hezbollah began firing at Druze villages, most notoriously in a rocket attack in July 2024 that killed 12 children in the Druze village of Majdal Shams, near the Syrian border in the Golan Heights.
Welcome to Afghanistan!
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An Egyptian Source Drops a Bombshell:
Egyptian President el-Sisi has reportedly asked Israel for assistance following the collapse of the Syrian army.
The president’s greatest concern is a popular uprising fueled by the shockwaves from Syria, potentially spreading to Egypt, destabilizing the country, and threatening his regime’s grip on power.
(Voice From The East on X)!
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77 House Democrats Send Letter To White House Urging A Ban On Arms Shipments To Israel.
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Nearly 80% of Gaza is uninhabitable. If the world truly cares for the few innocents in that region, then it should encourage them to leave. As long as this place is infested with terror, it will always serve as a launching pad for rockets towards Israel and thus be subjected to an Israeli response. Gaza can only be resettled after the terrorists are gone, the place is rebuilt, and it becomes inhabitable again. This will be a matter of at least 10 years, if not more!
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U.S. military confirmed drone sightings at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
Der Spiegel said drones were also sighted over locations belonging to German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall and chemicals group BASF.
(Reuters)
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Donald Trump about the mysterious drone sightings in New Jersey and other states:
“Let the public know or shoot them down.”
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The Druze of southern Syria have publicly declared their desire to secede from Syria and be annexed to Israel.
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https://t.me/s/beholdisraelchannel
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Syria: For the first time in 12 years, the Turkish flag flies over the Turkish embassy building in Damascus.
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Syrian revolutionary leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa (Al-Joulani):
“We are communicating with Western embassies and holding discussions with Britain to restore its representation in Syria.
Our goals are clear and our plans are ready for construction and development in Syria.
We are not about to engage in a conflict with Israel.”
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Hamas police torture Gaza prisoners and throw them down stairs | IDF Arabic spokesman reveals footage from Hamas interrogation rooms.
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The Russians, in practice, are disintegrating from Syria.
Russian Navy ships left the port of Tartus.
Russia evacuated heavy equipment and senior officers from Syria.
Transport planes (with equipment) began flying from Khmeimim base in Syria to Russian bases in Libya.
An era of more than four decades has ended!
(Abu Saleh)
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A Lebanese source says that the rebels have seized huge Hezbollah warehouses in Syria, which include insane quantities of anti-tank missiles, which, according to the source, will be enough for three years of fighting.
(Carmel News)
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Joseph Massad wasn't assigned to teach a Columbia course on Zionism in spite of praising October 7th, but because he praised October 7th.
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A moving video from Tehran, Iran:
"We named this street after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu because he cleanses all evil from the world."
The regime in Tehran knows the level of determination of the citizens.... God help us, what is going to happen to the regime in Iran on the day of the attack.
Citizens of Iran, polish your swords, be ready!”
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After days of drone activity in the skies over New Jersey, one American took matters into their own hands and opened fire on the drone with their personal weapon.
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More than 61 air strikes by IDF aircraft targeted Syrian territory in less than 5 hours, and the strikes are still ongoing!
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Netanyahu and Trump discussed Syria, Iran and Gaza last night.
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https://t.me/s/beholdisraelchannel
Israel Closes Embassy in Dublin Due to ‘Extreme Anti-Israel Policy of Irish Government’:
HOSTAGE DEAL CLOSE? ‘I’m more optimistic than before,’ senior Israeli source tells ALL ISRAEL NEWS – here’s why Arab, US diplomats are also increasingly optimistic: