DAMASCUS: The second such tour since long-time dictator Bashar Assad’s overthrow, hundreds of clergy from Syria’s Druze minority are travelling to Israel on Friday to lead a pilgrimage to a holy shrine.
Although Israel and Syria are officially at war, a Syrian official and a local news outlet say the clergy from the esoteric, monotheistic faith intend to cross the border on foot. The party will go to the Galilee area of north Israel, where the Nabi Shuaib shrine hosts an annual pilgrimage from April 25 to 28.
Following clearance by Israeli officials, 400 clerics from Hader, a village on the Syrian Golan Heights, and the Jaramana district of Damascus would go to Israel, according to Abu Yazan, the official from Hader. He stated that the journey was “purely religious” in nature and requested not to be identified by his full name.
About 150 Druze priests from the neighbouring province of Sweida will also take part, according to Suwayda24, a news outlet. According to the website, the group informed the Syrian government of its intention to travel to Israel, but it did not hear back.
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