by Yosi McIntire
Many years ago, I stayed with a Druze Servas family in the Golan Region of Northern Israel. Servas Israel currently has nearly 200 members, with thirty-five in the Northern region. My stay was an island of calm in an angsty region of turmoil, rocket barrages, political turmoil, and nearby wars. I learned a lot about what it means to live in such an area. Recently I received a copy of the Urgent Appeal written by my host to make the world aware of what is going on in Syria. The situation has not been widely reported in the US news. Below is their letter of appeal.
Urgent Appeal Letter
To: Global Conflict Resolution Forces
Subject: Urgent Call to Stop the Mass Killings of the Druze in Southern Syria
We are writing to you with deep pain and urgent concern regarding the ongoing mass killings and targeting of the Druze community in the Jabal al-Druze (Jabal al-Arab) region of southern Syria.
In recent weeks, we have witnessed a horrifying escalation of violence against innocent civilians. Entire families, including women, children, and even infants, are being brutally slaughtered. We have in our possession numerous video recordings that clearly document these atrocities - videos showing the killing of babies in their mothers' arms, elderly people executed in their homes, and villages attacked without mercy.
This is not a local conflict. It is a systematic campaign of terror and extermination against a peaceful ethnic and religious minority that has lived in the region for centuries. What is happening is nothing short of ethnic cleansing, and the world must not remain silent. We appeal to you - as a global organization tasked with conflict resolution and the protection of vulnerable populations - to take immediate action:
1. Send observers or peacekeeping forces to the affected areas.
2. Pressure relevant international bodies and governments to intervene.
3. Publicly condemn the atrocities and demand an end to the violence.
4. Ensure the protection of the Druze population and hold the perpetrators accountable.
We are not speaking in generalities. We are speaking about babies, mothers, and grandparents whose lives are being taken simply because of who they are. History will remember the silence of those who could have spoken - and the inaction of those who could have helped. Please act now.
Sincerely,
A son/daughter of the Druze community in the world.
The family has withheld their names for their safety.
