In recent weeks, the Druze community in southern Syria has faced horrific atrocities committed by forces linked to the Syrian regime. Hundreds of civilians have been hunted down, humiliated, and brutally murdered in the city of Sweida. Arsen Ostrovsky, human rights lawyer and CEO of The International Legal Forum, highlights in his powerful article, "The massacre of the Druze is a moral test: Israel acted, the world failed," that the international community’s silence in this crisis amounts to complicity.
Ostrovsky emphasizes the moral responsibility we hold, referencing Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel's profound words: “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” As the global community largely remains silent or issues vague statements, Israel has taken clear, decisive action, intervening militarily to defend the Druze.
The Druze, numbering around one million primarily in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel, have long been integral members of Israeli society. Their loyalty, courage, and solidarity with the Jewish people, especially evident in their service within the Israel Defense Forces, create a deep, personal bond. This relationship is why Israel did not hesitate to act in the face of violence inflicted upon their Druze brothers and sisters in Syria.
The disturbing scenes from Sweida, where Syrian soldiers reportedly joined forces with Bedouin attackers to murder and humiliate Druze civilians, evoke painful memories for the Jewish community—of similar dehumanizing acts perpetrated by the Nazis. Ostrovsky powerfully notes that this massacre is not merely political repression; it is a deliberate campaign of humiliation and degradation, a stark violation of human rights and international law.
While the Syrian regime under Ahmad al-Sharra attempts to position itself as a legitimate international partner, these atrocities unfold on its watch. Ostrovsky calls for genuine accountability, insisting that al-Sharra's legitimacy must be measured by his actions to stop the violence and bring justice.
Israel’s decisive intervention stands in stark contrast to international inaction. Ostrovsky makes it clear that Israel’s solidarity with the Druze is both moral and personal, rooted in shared values of dignity, coexistence, and resilience against extremism. For Israel, silence and neutrality were never options.
The Druze in Sweida deserve the international community’s urgent support, recognition, and decisive action—not empty words. The world’s response to their plight will define our collective moral standing. For Israel, however, the choice was clear: stand with the Druze, because the price of silence is simply too high.
(Original article by Arsen Ostrovsky, CEO of The International Legal Forum.)
