The Druze dilemma
The Israel Defense Forces knew in advance that declaring the northeastern part of the Golan Heights a closed military zone was not for the operational purpose of deploying troops along the border across from the Syrian Druze village of Hader, but was rather a precautionary measure, as even the smallest spark could ignite the volatile area.
Given the current sensitive situation, with fighting raging before the very eyes of the IDF and Druze communities on the Golan, closing the area made sense. And the fact that the closure was almost immediately lifted was also logical. This protected Golan Heights tourism and prevented the creation of a psychological barrier with the Druze.
Concerned Druze have been approaching the border to look on as the fighting between their brethren in Syria and the Nusra Front has escalated.
Just a few thousand Syrian Druze live in Hader. Most of them are poor and barely make ends meet from subsistence farming. Still, they maintain their allegiance to Syrian President Bashar Assad's weakening government as part of a tradition that viewed that moderate Alawites are preferable to Islamic terrorists.
On the ground, there is more panic than actual strife -- "much ado about nothing." True, several shells were fired in the Hader area, but the Free Syrian Army has already demanded that the Nusra Front spare the Druze, and it is likely Israel has delivered a similar message.
Nevertheless, Atta Farhat, head of the Druze Zionist Council, believes Israel should allow Israeli Druze to cross the border and help their brethren in the besieged Syrian village and equip them with weapons and ammunition. According to Farhat, the Druze in Hader are completely isolated. Unfortunately, in his eyes, the Israeli government is currently reluctant to assist -- publicly or secretly.
Israel is currently weighing how to approach the situation, both militarily and diplomatically. If Druze refugees arrive at the border, will Israel refuse to allow them to enter and set up an enclave on the Israeli side of the Golan? Is Israel even prepared for the influx of thousands of refugees? If Israel refused to let Druze refugees in, what kind of rift would this produce with the Israeli Druze community-
It has already been said that Israel has decided to stay on the sidelines rather than take part in the Syrian civil war. Israel does not want to be dragged into it and it shouldn't. However, Israel must ready itself for numerous potential scenarios.
This unique situation of being both prepared and not getting involved allows Israel to "hold the stick at both ends" at a time when we are facing serious dilemmas.
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