Israeli president Reuven Rivlin joins in Druse Nebi Shuaib celebration Jerusalem Post/April 25/16
Despite a long history of hostilities, Jews and Arabs occasionally acknowledge that they are cousins in that both are descended from Abraham the Patriarch.
Jews and Druse are also related in that Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses is the key prophet of the Druse faith. Nebi Shuaib, a tomb overlooking the Sea of Galilee is believed by the Druse to be the burial site of Jethro and is therefore one of the most revered of Druse holy sites. The Druse congregate there in multitudes each year to discuss communal affairs, and make a point of inviting the President of the State to join them.
The relationship between the Druse and the Jews goes beyond that of Jethro and Moses. Jethro is believed to have descended from the progeny of Ketura who became Abraham’s concubine following the death of Sarah, and who bore him six sons. So in essence, Jews, Muslims, Druse and even Christians, considering that the original followers of Jesus were Israelites, are all in essence descended from Abraham.
Rivlin referred to the blood ties between the Jews and the Druse in a somewhat different manner.
“We always talk of the covenant of blood,” he said, declaring that he prefers to regard it as the covenant of life that has been carefully built up over decades with limitless dedication during which time the Druse played a crucial role in contributing to and defending Israel’s security.
Rivlin insisted that the covenant between the two peoples could not be based purely on the sword, on war and on death. The true covenant he said, was based on life and equality and would become a reality with the understanding that the two peoples are mutually connected and concerned with each other when they think of each other daily, and not only in times of war.
Rivlin highlighted the latter by paying tribute to two prominent members of the Druse community who had passed away during the past year. One was General Munir Amar, the head of the IDF Civil Administration for Judea and Samaria, who was recently killed in a plane crash, and the other was journalist, novelist and playwright Salman Natour. Each had integrated into mainstream Israel while retaining his Druse identity and values.
Fully aware that like all minorities in Israel, the Druse community, despite its proven loyalty have standards of living far below those of the Jewish community.
In this context Rivlin reminded his audience of the five year NIS2 billion development plan for Druse villages that was accepted in June last year, underscoring that the decision by the government was without precedent. He pledged that he as president would do everything in his power to ensure the plan’s implementation.
Rivlin said that he understood the anxiety of the local Druse population with regard to the fate of their Druse brethren in Syria, and acknowledged that this was also a matter of concern for Israel, but declined to elaborate further.
Rivlin expressed sadness in regards to the completion of his military aide Brig. Gen. Hasson Hasson’s tour of duty in a few weeks time.
Hasson is the first Druse to serve in this capacity and began his service with Rivlin’s predecessor Shimon Peres in July, 2008. Rivlin complemented Hasson and called him one of the finest of officers. Hasson is the son-in-law of Kamal Mansour, who for forty years served as the advisor on minorities to all the presidents of Israel from Zalman Shazar to Shimon Peres.
Rivlin said that although the time has not yet come to bid farewell to Hasson, it was important for him to express his appreciation for all that Hasson has done in the presence of so large and dignified a Druse gathering.
Rivlin was received by Druse spiritual leader Sheikh Mawfik Tariff, who earlier in the month had together with religious leaders of other faiths joined Rivlin in condemning violence, incitement and terrorism.
