Bulletin of Palestine Studies

Abstract

Following the placement of Operation "Al-Aqsa Flood," launched by Hamas against the Israeli occupation on October 7, 2023, on the international agenda, Israel’s violations in the region have come under scrutiny. However, evaluating the ensuing massacres solely through the lens of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict reveals an incomplete approach; in this context, it is necessary to focus on internal dynamics within Israel, particularly the Druze community, which plays a critical role in the country's social and military policies. This study examines the military and social status of Druze citizens of Israel, focusing on their standing within the army and the rights violations they encounter. Israel has codified its ethnic-based nation-state concept, adopted since its foundation, into a constitutional framework via the 2018 "Jewish Nation-State Law." This legislation has undermined the status of the Druze, who were integrated based on loyalty to the state, thereby relegating them to the identity of "stateless citizens." The Zionist mentality has reconstructed Druze history as a colonial mechanism, aiming to dissociate the community from other Arabs by forging a connection with Judaism. Specifically, Druze soldiers serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been compelled to serve Zionist policies by being deployed for home raids in the West Bank and Gaza, harsh enforcement at checkpoints, and oppressive measures against Palestinian detainees in prisons. This strategy serves as a concrete manifestation of Israel's policy to intentionally create a rift and hostility between the Druze and Palestinians. The study reveals that Israel's "loyal minority" discourse has not granted equal citizenship rights to the Druze community; on the contrary, they have become victims of the tension between democracy and the ethno-nationalist structure. Structural inequalities regarding local development, budget distribution, and zoning issues are causing the "Israelization of the Druze" project to lose its validity in the long run. Indeed, the Druze are situated in a multi-layered social position, caught between their historical loyalty to the state and increasingly vocal demands for equality and recognition. Ultimately, this research details the instrumentalized roles of the Druze within state security policies, their ensuing identity crisis, and their pursuit of a two-state solution in the face of Israel's policy of "de-identification”.