Druze in Israel

The Israeli Druze (Arabic: الدروز الإسرائيليون‎, Hebrew: דְּרוּזִים יִשְׂרְאֵלִים) are a unique religious minority of Arab descent located in Israel. In 2012, there were 130,600 Druze living in the country. In 1957, the Israeli government designated the Druze a distinct ethnic community at the request of its communal leaders. The Druze are Arabic-speaking citizens of Israel who serve in the Israel Defense Forces. Members of the community have attained top positions in Israeli politics and public service. Before the establishment of the State of Israel, the Druze were not recognized as a religious community and were discriminated against by the judicial system. They live mainly in the north of the country.

History

The Druze (Arabic: درزي‎, derzī or durzī, plural دروز, durūz; Hebrew: דְּרוּזִים, druzim; they call themselves Al-Muwaḥḥidīn, lit. "the monotheists") are an esoteric monotheistic religious community found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan. The religion incorporates elements of Ismailism, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism and other philosophies. The Druze call themselves Ahl al-Tawhid "People of Unitarianism or Monotheism" or al-Muwaḥḥidūn "Unitarians, Monotheists." Sheikh Amin Tarif was the preeminent religious leader of the community until his death in 1993.