The spiritual leader of Syria's Druze has described the community as "an integral part of the State of Israel," a declaration that drew sharp reactions across the region and deepened tensions between Suwayda province and Damascus.
Hikmat al-Hijri made the statement at a gathering in Suwayda on Monday, praising Israel's model of state-building and saying the two communities shared "common denominators" that he said extended to doctrine.
