Sons of Grace

The State of Israel has many allies through out the world from the United States to Kenya and Turkey. Many people of many faiths. But inside Israel they have a staunch ally. The Druze.

Who are these people that openly support the Jewish State?

The Druze faith began as a movement in Ismailism that favored the traditional and more liberal eastern order of Ismailism that was mainly influenced by Greek philosophy and Gnosticism.

The faith was officially revealed in the year 1017 by Hamza ibn ˤAlī ibn Aḥmad. A Persian.

The Druze are considered both an unique society and a religion. Some claim to be Muslim, some do not. The Druze faith is said to abide by Islamic principles, but they tend to be separatist in their treatment of Druze-hood. Druze does not allow conversion to the religion. Their holy book is called Kitab Al Hikmah, the Book of Wisdom.

The Druze are split into two groups. The largely secular majority, are not granted access to the Druze holy literature. They are around 80% of the Druze population, and generally distance themselves from religious issues - for this reason they are able to fill governmental positions (sometimes disproportionately to the Druze's share of the general population) in the nations that they inhabit which endorse other religions. They often do not consider themselves to have most of the religious responsibilities that the faith includes, but practice personal prayer.

The religious group, which includes both men and women (about 20% of the population), They have a special mode of dress designed to comply with Quranic traditions. Women can opt to wear al-mandīl, a loose white veil, especially in the presence of other people. They wear al-mandīl on their head to cover their hair and wrap it around their mouth and sometimes over their nose as well. They wear black shirts and long skirts covering their legs to their ankles. Male ˤuqqāl grow moustaches, and wear dark clothing with white turbans.



There is equality with the sexes in religion and governance. The Druze believe in the unity of God.

Yet for most of their history the Arabs have tried to destroy them as heretics. For that reason most Druze villages are built on hilltops. Defense is foremost in their minds.

In Israel the majority of the approximately 120,000 Druze consider themselves a distinct ethnic group and do not identify themselves as Arab. Since 1957 the Israeli government has also designated the Druze a distinct ethnic community, at the request of the community's leaders.

The Druze have served with distinction and pride in the IDF since the nation's founding in 1948. At first they volunteered for service, but in 1956 the Druze Leaders insisted that they be given the same rights as Jews to be drafted for military service. They have shown time and time their loyalty to Israel and have become prominent in both the IDF and Israeli politics.

In 2006 the all-Druze Herev [sword] Battalion, through their knowledge of the Lebanese terrain, suffered no casualties and claim to have killed 20 Hezbollah fighters. They have since been made an sayeret (elite unit).

The Druze are a remarkable people.

Now why do I bring up these wonderful allies? For in Israel they are treated as equals. In Israel they prosper. In Israel they have found a home. Yet not in Arab lands. They reside in Lebanon, Syria and Israel. They are discriminated against in Lebanon and Syria. And in Lebanon now, the Druze are under attack from Hezbollah. As I write this more and more Druze villages in Lebanon are being turned over to the Lebanese Army in an effort to stave off massacres by Hezbollah.

And the world will watch as another religious minority gets exterminated while they make grand speeches and hold to high ideals. Why aren't college students marching through the streets of London, Paris, New York carrying signs condemning this injustice? Why is the left silent? Is it because their Muslim overlords will be angry if they scream out at this injustice? Or is it just hypocrisy.

The Sons of Grace in Israel are not being silent. They hone their skills and weapons waiting for the chance to tackle Hezbollah again and bring justice for their people. And I wish them all the best for it.