Israel sends aid to Syrian Druze as clerics prepare for historic visit

A Druze farmer walks through a field as he prepares to prune apple trees near the the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights on March 11, 2025. (File/AFP)
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JERUSALEM/BEIRUT: Israel has sent 10,000 humanitarian aid packages to Syria’s Druze community while also strengthening ties with the group, as a delegation of Druze clerics prepares for a historic visit to Israel.

The aid, including basic goods such as oil, flour, salt, and sugar, was delivered to the conflict-affected southern province of Suwayda, Israel’s Foreign Ministry reported on Thursday.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Syrian Druze clerics is preparing to visit Israel this Friday, marking the first such visit since 1948.

The group, invited by Israel's Druze community, will visit the Tomb of Nabi Shuaib in the Galilee and meet with Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, the spiritual leader of Israel’s Druze community.

The visit has faced strong opposition within Syria's Druze community, with some members expressing disapproval of the trip.