This week, Rob and Ruairi talk about the growing contention between Syria and Israel over the Druze — a mysterious religious and ethnic group that has managed to maintain its unique identity for over a millennium. Found primarily in Syria, Israel, and Lebanon, the Druze challenge many Western assumptions about the Middle East and Muslim-majority countries.
We explore:
🔹 Who the Druze are and what makes their faith and community so distinctive
🔹 How their survival over centuries upends simplistic narratives about the region
🔹 The strategic role the Druze play in Israel’s politics and Syria’s civil war
🔹 Whether Israel is seeking to exploit Druze communities in a post-Assad Syria
In a region defined by sectarian conflict and shifting alliances, the Druze story is one of resilience, adaptability, and, perhaps, manipulation. This episode will leave you questioning much of what you thought you knew about the Middle East.