"Israel’s" Druze narrative: Strategy for weakening Syria’s unity

"Israel" announced Tuesday it would invest over USD 1 billion to support the Druze in northern "Israel", a move seen as an effort to sway Syrian Druze against their Islamist government, as the "Israeli" military intensifies its operations in southern Syria and lobbies global powers to keep Damascus weak.

The proposal, as reported by the Times of Israel, is set to be reviewed by the "Israeli" cabinet on Sunday. If approved, it allegedly will focus on improving the socio-economic conditions of these minority groups.

In a video statement released by Netanyahu’s office, a Druze politician from his party expressed gratitude for the initiative, calling Netanyahu an “asset to the country and the community.”

However, this domestic policy initiative coincides with "Israel’s" escalating geopolitical actions in Syria.

Recently, Reuters reported that "Israel" has been lobbying the United States to maintain Russian military bases in Syria, aiming to keep the Syrian government fragmented.

"Israel’s" efforts are part of a broader strategy to weaken Syria’s central government and prevent it from regaining full control over its territory. This comes as "Israel" expands its military operations in southern Syria, specifically targeting areas near the capital, Damascus.

At the same time, "Israeli" officials are advocating for a weakened central government in Damascus, arguing that it is necessary to counter Islamist factions, such as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), that are trying to consolidate power in the region.

These actions have sparked significant backlash among Syria’s Druze population. On Tuesday, dozens of Druze residents gathered in Seyouf Square in Jaramana, a suburb of Damascus, to protest "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s remarks and reaffirm their commitment to Syria’s territorial integrity.

The protests were triggered by Netanyahu’s announcement that "Israel" would block the advance of HTS and the Syrian army into southern Syria.

While Netanyahu claims this is to protect the Druze, many believe it is part of a broader strategy to keep Syria fragmented and prevent its full sovereignty.

In parallel to its military actions, |Israel’s| domestic policies, particularly the Druze investment plan, have raised questions. Netanyahu has emphasized the need to demilitarize Syria’s southern provinces—Quneitra, Daraa, and Suweida—arguing that |Israel| cannot tolerate any threats to the Druze community.

However, many critics view this rhetoric as a pretext for maintaining |Israel’s| influence in the region and preventing Syria from reasserting control over its territory.

As tensions in southern Syria continue to rise, the Druze community in Syria remains opposed to external interference, advocating for national unity and the restoration of Syria’s territorial integrity.

The situation raises important questions about "Israel’s" long-term objectives: Is "Israel" genuinely trying to protect minority communities, or is it using these issues to further its strategic interests at Syria’s expense?