There is no evidence that Israel violates the human rights of the Druze people living on the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Six Day War. The Golan Heights is home to four Druze villages, Majdal Shams, Ein Qiniyye, Masadeh and Buqata, with a total population of approximately 23,000. Over more than 50 years, these towns have flourished under Israeli rule, especially in comparison to their counterparts on the Syrian side of the border. Since 2011, it is estimated that the Syrian regime of President Basher al-Assad massacred hundreds of thousands of its own people, including 3,000 Palestinians.[1]

By contrast, the Druze villages of the Golan, known for their hospitality and culinary delicacies, attract tourists both from inside Israel and abroad.[2] The village of Majdal Shams has developed a bustling nightlife with six bars serving mostly local residents.[3] Golan Druze, who for many years were allowed by Israel to pursue higher education in Damascus, now study in Tel Aviv.[4] In short, the Druze communities are growing and developing.

Furthermore, Golan Druze have the right to obtain Israeli citizenship. While most Golan Druze historically declined Israel’s offer of citizenship, since 2015 there has been a significant increase in applications for citizenship from this population.[5] In addition, citizenship aside, the Golan Druze hold Israeli residency status which enables them to travel and work freely. Many even prefer to travel using their Israeli documents rather than their Syrian documents.[6]

As of October 2018, the Golan Druze also have the right to vote in municipal elections to choose their local representatives, just like in every other Israeli city. Prior to 2018, the village representatives were not democratically elected, but were appointed by Israel. However, the Israeli Supreme Court granted a petition filed by local Druze demanding the right to hold elections in their towns.[7] Although only Israeli citizens may run for election as candidates, all Druze residents are entitled to vote.

The October 2018 municipal elections in the Golan were a subject of controversy within the Druze community, but one of the candidates, Samira Rada-Amran — the first female Druze ever to run for mayor in Israel — explained that the local resistance to the elections was due to fear: “they don’t want to look like traitors in the eyes of the Syrian regime.”[8] Another candidate, Monjd Abu Saleh, said he defines himself as both Druze and Israeli, adding that he supported the U.S. decision to officially recognize the Golan Heights as part of Israel, because it made him “feel safe” from the war in Syria.[9]

The accusation expressed by Syria, Nicaragua and Egypt — legitimized every year by a UNHRC resolution — is particularly absurd given that while the Syrian regime has been massacring its people, causing over 5.6 million to flee and internally displacing another 6.6 million (according to the UNHCR), Israel has provided life-saving medical treatment to Syrians injured in the conflict. From 2013 to 2018, Israel facilitated provision of humanitarian assistance to Syrians on the other side of the border, and allowed sick and injured Syrians into Israel to receive free medical treatment.[10]

As reported in the Times of Israel, during this time, the IDF treated 4,900 Syrians at Israeli hospitals and another 7,000 at its day clinic on the border.[11] In addition, Israel transported into Syria 1,700 tons of food, 1.1 million liters of fuel, and 26,000 cases of medical supplies. From 2016 to 2018, Israel also operated a day clinic on the border. Israel ended the program when Assad’s regime took back control of the border area.

Given that the 23,000 Druze people on the Golan are in no way victims of repression or other forms of gross human rights violations, it is absurd that the Human Rights Council devotes an entire resolution to this matter.