Protection or partition? The future of Suweida and Syria’s Druze

Protection or partition? The future of Suweida and Syria’s Druze

Damascus, Syria - Since last July, the question of Syria’s Suweida province has entered a new phase. There is no longer talk of negotiations with the Damascus government, nor plans for the surrender of weapons. Instead, the dominant theme among some of the province's leaders has become secession from Syria and establishing an independent, Israeli-protected state. Hikmat al-Hijri, the spiritual leader of the Druze community in Suweida, told Israe…