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EMET Welcomes Formation of American International Druze Public Affairs Council (AIDPAC)

The Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET) formally extends its welcome to our new partners at the American International Druze Public Affairs Council (AIDPAC). We congratulate our Druze friends, among them former Israeli Minister of Communications Ayob Kara, on the formation of their new organization.

Nearly a century after the formation of the Jews-Druze covenant, we continue to see just how unbreakable the bond between our people truly is. Over the past two years, many young Israeli Druze men have been at the forefront of our never-ending effort to defend the State of Israel and ensure its place in the world. Many of them have made the ultimate sacrifice, and Israelis and allies of Israel are forever indebted to them. However, this partnership goes well beyond military service, as Druze Israelis play prominent roles in Israeli social, cultural, educational, legal and commercial life.

At the same time, we’ve seen Druze communities in other parts of the Middle East, and particularly in Syria, suffer unprecedented levels of violence. Last summer, Syrian government-aligned forces descended upon Druze villages in Al-Suwayda and massacred over a thousand members of the community in just a couple of days. This behavior by the Syrian government is the most horrifying example in a pattern of targeting of ethnic and religious minorities in Syria, which continues to this day. We’re proud to support the Israeli response to these atrocities, and share the State of Israel’s commitment to protecting the Syrian Druze – our brothers’ brothers.

This is a time of great risk and peril in the Middle East, but also that of great opportunity. For over two years, Israel has been fighting an existential war for its place among the nations. At the same time, this is a real chance to reshape the Middle East and ensure a more secure, peaceful and prosperous future. In this context, a force that tells the unique story of the Druze, as well as advocating for recognition of their inalienable rights, is needed more than ever. We’re proud to support AIDPAC in taking on this important task.