The good Druze and the bad Druze
Op-ed: Israelis must remember that despite the huge suffering experienced by Syria's residents since the civil war began, quite a few of them are Israel haters.
If we go back to the events of that night, we'll be able to understand the depth of the failure: The IDF evacuates wounded Syrians in serious condition to a hospital under the supreme value of the sanctity of life. Near Moshav Neve Ativ, the ambulance is stormed by a radical and violent group, which doesn’t characterize Israel's Druze community in any way and attacks the wounded and the soldiers. The small security force exercise restraint and tries to scare the rioters off by firing in the air, but one of the wounded is killed.
Now imagine what would have happened if the IDF – which was accused on the same day in a United Nations report of committing war crimes – had let the wounded die on the border fence. How would we have been able to look at ourselves in the national mirror? Alternatively, what would have happened if the security force had not exercised restraint and had shot at the rioters and killed several dozen of them?
So we should ask if what allegedly looks like a failed military operation – and there is no doubt that the force was not properly prepared and that the route was likely leaked – may have actually, unintentionally, prevented a grave disaster. Preventing such an incident from happening would have required a Border Guard unit or a Golani force – an inconceivable situation.
The leaders of Israel's Druze community should gain control of the extremists among them, and the Israel Police should impose order not only on the streets of Tel Aviv – but also on the Golan Heights roads.
Israel's citizens should welcome the fact that the IDF evacuates wounded regardless of their religion. But before we beat ourselves up with exaggerated criticism against the IDF's activity, we must not forget who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. Because the story that some of those involved are telling themselves is different from the facts on the ground.
Only a month ago, the IDF thwarted an attempt by terrorists to plant explosive devices on the Golan border – and all these terrorists had been sent by Hezbollah from the Druze village of Khader. The infrastructures of Imad Mughniyeh's son and of Samir Kuntar – who is a Druze himself – were also laid down with the help of Khader residents.
The Druze are only hurting themselves by trying to present this village as a stronghold of fighters for justice. This is a village which generously hosts Hezbollah members and Syrian President Bashar Assad's soldiers.
So we should remember that despite the huge suffering experienced by Syria's residents since the civil war began, quite a few of them are Israel haters.
