Israeli Druze: How do you define your identity? 

"Worked as a teacher for 31 years, and now I work for my wife" 🤣🤣 I love this guy

Palestinian: This is my land. Israeli: No, this is my land. Druze: what's up guys, nice day today. Well, seeya later, gotta go do Druze stuff, have a nice day.

Haha so trippy to hear “ I have family in Syria...Lebanon...Israel....Oklahoma City”

As a Jewish Israeli, I love Druze people. Got to talk to them and discuss and even debate with them, they are great. Israel need them, and make Israel a better place.

איזה אנשים נפלאים, איזה ברכה וכבוד שיש לנו שאתם חלק מאיתנו ❤❤❤

I'm a 25 y-o Israeli who served in the IDF with many druze (about 40% of the unit were druze). All great people. Everyone has a lot to learn from the way they educate their kids.

Hello to Druze people from Armenia🇦🇲! This is very interesting video, thank you for this content. Druze people seem to be very nice, everyone is so kind and openhearted.

these answers arent exceptions mind you, this is how every single druze person i met feels. they are stateless people, they dont care who rules them, they just want to live in peace and be loyal to whoever as long as they get to live a normal happy life. love these people.

I love Druze. They seem to love and respect whichever country they live in including Israel. I feel a sense of peace listening and reading them talk.💝

When I was in Israel I loved talking to and meeting the Druze. They have a good sense of humour and a good energy about them, peaceful.

As an Israeli (and Jewish) I have lots of love and respect to my Druze brothers!!! I'm proud and happy that they are a part of Israel!!

All Israelis love Druze, I have never met before a single Israeli who had anything bad to say about Druze, every single interaction I’ve had with Druze have been behind positive. They taught me how to speak Arabic and the way they speak is so beautiful I love it

ℹ️ As a Druze I explain why you hear different answers from every Druze! Druze are Semite people that origin from the middle East with some saying that they have roots as Caucasian or Egyptian or northern Arabic... after living in this region for way more than a thousand year... we developed our own ethno-religious group... Now we are only Druze... but we are similar to all middle Easterners and Semitic people. We don't know which language our ancestors used to speak before the Muslim conquests (most likely Semitic).. but we speak Arabic since then and since we live all in the middle east.. we also got simmalr culture and traditions.. tho still different. Cuz of this long time speaking Arabic and surround with Arabs and possible Arab origins... some start to identify as Arab whereas some other just don't! (today being Arab tends to mean you speak Arabic and not being ethnically Arab... as a Tunisian Berber might also say he/she is Arab ) Many Druze say we passed through a lot of religion and so for example we were Jews.. Christian... Muslims.. Shia.. and other philosophical ideologies until we figured out our own thing (a mixture of all.. cuz all religions lead to one thing theoretically)... Islam being the last religion we left... some still like to identify as Muslims.. (tho we interpret the Quran very differently!... we do nothing like Muslims) and some like to do so to avoid hostile environment from other extremist Muslims! Most Druze when asked privately (no pressure or possible consequences) would say they are only Druze.. no Muslims I myself feel comfortable entering a church a synagogue or a mosque (tho not my favourite cuz honestly some/many Muslims wouldn't be pleased to hear that I'm a Druze) ... So I'm just a Druze who accepts all religions and read all books and try to learn and respect everybody although we have our own principals and so on... DRUZE are great Nationalists and Patriots! so Syrian Druze would identify as such just like Lebanese, Jordanian, Israelis, Canadians, American, German and so on... they are so loyal that they would argue among each other just because of that.. (stupid right! lol ) for example a Syrian Druze would argue with an Israeli Druze about which country is better or right or wrong ... so it only takes some time for a Druze to integrate within a country and start to identify as such... (similar to Jews in Europe in the past)... hope this has explained why Druze answers can be so different love and peace

This video is a long time coming Corey, Thanks. The Druze community deserves to be recognized for their contributions to Israeli society, security and for their unique culture/ religion.

Wow from this video I figured out why Farid Al-Atrash(Druze will known musician) never got married and he was always falling in love with Egyptian women but couldn't marry one because of the 'Family rules".

Religion of druze seems friendly enough to interview. Smart guy, he says he work for his wife 🤣

I am an Israeli Jew, and I love the Druze faith and its people so much.

Love and Protect the Druze

Watching these interviews really moved me. What a wonderful group of people!

Love the Druze Good upbringing and education and most loyal people I ever got to know ❤️🇮🇱

As an elderly male tourist from New Zealand in 2017, I did not even know they existed. In a very crowded bus in Galilee I got sat down next to a Druze girl about 17 who spoke excellent English. What a credit to her people she was. Highly educated and with a great outlook on life, she loved being an Israeli Druze. Another fascinating facet about Israel. Dear Lord, it is an amazing country.

Druz people are so nice happy to have you in my country

Wow!! I’m in love with these people! Each time I learn more about them, I am more astounded. I’m so grateful to have them as fellow citizens and friends! 💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

I found this to be one of your most interesting vids, Corey. Amazing work.

This is what we want to see Corey, Israel isn’t all Jewish and Palestine isn’t all Muslim, love to hear from the lesser known peoples.

This was a very interesting video. Happy to learn so much about Druze community and religion:)

Had many Druze friends, loved all of them, bless them all!

Very proud to be Druze !! The comments speak for themselves.. Respect to all those who have left a positive comment regarding the Druze. Amen and bless you all. Great video 🙏🙏

This is really fascinating. I knew about the Druze, but this may be my first time hearing from them about their opinions regarding various topics.

💙💙💙 Shalom and Shavuah Tov to all Am Yisroel wherever you may be. 💙💙💙 To the Druze community of Israel: Thank you for your commitment to the state of Israel. "The Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps " Psalms 121:4

Only got to interact with them during my military service - since they live in northern Israel, and I can say that they're fine people. Maybe when the weather gets a bit hotter I'll take a ride to Daliat El-Carmel and buy me some proper Labneh, before the rain comes. We're blessed to have such diversity in our country.

תודה רבה למתראיינים הדרוזים, על הכנות ועל הערכים שאתם מדברים עליהם. תודה מרמת גן :)

Druze are great people. They consider Jethro as their ancestor

This was so amazing and interesting. Love the way you edited it and the order you showed the people’s opinions in.

Big shout out to all my druze brothers and sisters ❤️❤️

Very nice and friendly people. It was fain to hear their opinions. Peace for everyone from Czech Republic.

1) Druze are a Ethno-Religous group, so they are their own ethnic group and religion at the same time and they do not allow converts. So how they identify beyond Druze depends on many factors. 2) in Surveys in Israel of the non-post 67 Golan Druze they Identify as Israeli more than arab by over 90%, 97% of men serve in the IDF, and those pre-1967 druze fought for Israel in 1948 and have the famous "Pact of Blood" with Israel after its independence. The Druze who came under Israel post 1967 have a more complex identity which seems to be most of what we see here.

Spectacular. Your best work. Thank you.

I’m lebanese druze and here if you ask them if they are arab 99% will say yes. On that question it’s more of a country type of thing rather than religious.

Thank you druzim we appreciated you for intrubit to Israel may HaShem blessed you amen.

What a peaceful religion, much love to Druze people

The druze are a great example of how a minority integrate with different society such as the Israelis. By the way: I adore the druze! ❤️

Just love these longer monologues/dialogues. Amazing to listen to people who otherwise wouldn't record a video and upload it here.

This video is truly amazing, I already knew about the Druze as being one of the most peaceful people on the planet and this video has more than cemented this perception and I am literally blown away with how down to earth and humble all of them are. The two older gentlemen are also exceptionally experienced in all things and I think if you would make a video of speaking to either of them for hours on end that people would love to watch it, heck, I certainly would, what the second gentleman explained about the treatment of the Druze by Islamic law really struck me and it pissed me off that such role model citizens can be treated in such an inhumane manner just because they believe something different? I as a Christian could only dream of being such a well rounded and wholesome man so it is beyond me why anybody would wish these people any harm really.

I love them, the people, the women, the girls, the men. The Druze are great loyal people. May you be blessed & flourish.

Druzes are the wonderful folk. Every time I meet them I have a lovely energy and sweet feelings.

I met an amazing Druze who was my best friend during the military. May God bless them .Good and wise people.

I live in Israel and I can say the israelis love druzes people, we see them here as our brothers and sisters. I actually was in a druze house in Osafia with my class when I was in high school and had one of the best meals in my life and the family was so nice to us!! You all should visit druze villages when you come to Israel.

During the Second Intifada, a photograph by the Associated Press wrongly identified an American Jew, Tuvia Grossman, as a Palestinian after he was beaten by an Arab mob and the New York Times wrongly wrote in the caption of the photo that an Israeli police officer was beating him. In fact, the policeman was an Israeli Druze named Gideon Tzefadi who saved Tuvia from being beaten to death by the Palestinian mob.

"Today I work for my wife", don't we all.

we appreciat our druze brothers, very peacful and loyal religion. Best warriors you will ever see.

i lovw how israel is so diverse. its like the cradle of the jewish culture but its open for different people. not like how the westerners think israel is....

Druze people seem great! Cheers from Poland

I love this video! It shows the diversity and reality of what Israel is! The media always victimizing a group! Druze have adapted to each country where they go!

The Druze are such a beautiful, peace loving people. Much love from Australia!

As some decided in purpose to confuse ethnicity, language and religion, every one in the middle east can choose the best criteria to get advantages depending on the situation.

It really feels like the Druzes are above the differences. Great people.

10:00 This question was answered so profoundly WOW! I love it.

The Druze are interesting. If you watch anything in Arabic about them from Syria or Lebanon, they always emphasize that they are Arabs and Muslims. Then the ones in Israel are the opposite. The Syrian Druze guy here in the Golan Heights was kind of a middle ground between these two positions.

The women at 2:37 seems like the warmest person. Her views and outlooks are so refreshing.

This video was really eye opening in order to understand who they are and what they identify as. Basically they identify themselves as a religious, separate ethnicity, they take the nationality of whatever country they're in as long as they let them live free.

I'm an arab and I think that the israeli people seem to be very interesting people regardless of their ethno-religious group. I would like to have an israeli friend

Us Jews love the Druze so much 🕎❤️🇮🇱 they are the decedents of "Yitro" (Jethro), Moshe (Moses) married his daughter Tzipora, due to that Jews and Druze share extremely similar DNA, religion, geography and ideals. They are our cousins quite literally.

Druze are great people everyone in Israel likes them

It would be great if you did Part 2 and Part 3 on this question. I'd like to see more statements from Druzes from the Golan. It would be interesting to hear from Alawites, though I know it's hard to get into Ghajar.

My favorite part of this channel is that it really shows how rich the culture in Israel is ... something that I wasn’t aware of .... and though I am sad that we can clearly see that many Israelis struggle with their complex identities ... I hope Israel takes a page from America that perfected the art of being American and not having that conflict with any other complex identity one might have ....

I’m Druze Israeli and I feel most connected to the great Jewish people 💙

Loved the last guy. What a soul conversation.

The Druze are loyal citizens and great soldiers. We are proud to have them in our midsts.

you can ask any israeli jew we LOVE our druze brothers!

I have nothing but outmost respect for the Israeli Druze!

How could anyone criticise the druze for mixing Ideas and creating a new religion when all religions have been created the same way?

Interesting insight into culture and their gestalt, nice metaphor with Jews living in the diaspora.

the guy at 1:12....I think I met him at that mountain that overlooks Quinetra

Very sad to see that most of the Druze haters are jealous Muslims.. Maybe if they learn from us Druze, other people around the world would show more respect to them.

Very interesting interviews on the intersection of Indemnities and belonging.

Absolutely the best People. Loved by all Israelis, as they are true Israelis. True Brothers.

Shalom/Salam +Corey Gil-Shuster . I'm from France and we know very few about the Druze people because , yet things are complex in the Middle-East, for the geopolitics, the subtilities of differences between Sunna and Sh'ia, but with the comprehension of the Druze religion, it becomes complexer. This a very beautiful people who, I think, has understood the essential and take the best of the different cultures of the area.

I see a misconception that if you speak Arabic you are Arabic. The language doesn’t Necessary define culture ethnicity and religion. Many African countries speak french but they are far from the french culture and mentality. I have Assyrian friends from Arabic countries and they sometimes lost not to clearly know how to define themselves some will say Arabic some will say no

What a beautiful people. Israel is blessed to have such a wonderful unique community.

I would like to hear interview should Circassian people! Please, find them

Notice at 2:26 when he says he taught teenagers he says "tipesh-esre". This is a nickname bantering teenagers - "-esre" is a suffix of all numbers from 11-19 in Hebrew. "Eħad-esre" "shesh-esre" etc. The word "Tipesh" means "stupid". So "tipesh-esre" is basically like saying "stupid teens", usually referring to teenagers' tendency to do wild and stupid stuff :)

I'm addicted for your show Thank you

A fascinating people. They know how to live peaceably, for one thing. They fight hard when they have to, but mostly they seem pretty chilled out and just get on with life. . Others could do with following their lead, to be honest.

They speak from the heart. No politics at all. Druze can survive in any society.

Druze ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Went to a Druze restaurant in Haifa once, and I can safely say that they have some of the best cuisine I ever tasted. I know it has nothing to do with the video, but just wanted to share this nice fact.

The Druzes seem to be a very fluid group, they can adapted in anyplace without losing their own identity. They embrace being Israeli as much as being Druze, I think that's why they are also easily accepted within the community, without any major conflict.

Great people ; I love them from a Moroccan Arab muslim ..

I watch your videos with great interest and pleasure. very important job you do to bring awareness on very important subjects. power of question works here literary doing magic with very positive impact on locals in Israel and global communities, including us here in Tbilisi.

This video is so informative and needed to show us the real Israel. Thank You Corey!

I'm learning a lot from this channel. I have never heard of Druze, and I have never heard of other religions coming from Islam.

It's a nice way to fit in between the two Brotherly groups of Semites

I have met the Druze in the Golan Hieghts. They were the kindest people I met there.

AS an old man in Australia, I learnt a lot in watching this interview. I love the beliefs the Druze have and their values and the acceptance of where they live. I thank all the Druze who have educated me tonight.

The older man in the end was a golden catch! Amazing explanation. Seems like Druze are super nice!

I also like the English speaking guy. He understands the vaguenesses of identity labels.

Just to add a bit of color. As someone of Lebanese Druze descent, Lebanese and Syrian Druze generally feel differently. Druze are always for Druze #1. However Non Israeli Druze do in general identify as Arabs, just like Maronites or Melkites do. I do realize this channel is about Israel, but I wanted to make sure outsiders know that Druze are not exclusive to Israel. While Lebanese and Syrian Druze are less hostile to Israel than many Arab muslims, they generally view Israel as an aggressor country. I'm not taking a stand on the issue, thats just how most of Lebanese and Syrian Druze communities feel. I love this channel and appreciate all the work Corey does, but I felt the need to add this context. The one thing that binds Druze is they will always protect each other. I dont feel thats right (I am a secular atheist, but my poor parents insist I have been reincarnated, they mostlt chill about it though) but it is unique. You may have very different political feelings, national loyalties, but if you need refuge, even if you are some Australian surfer dude with druze parents, you go to any Druze settlement give your family name and the village. If that checks out they will take you in, almost regardless of what youve done. Its like a get out of jail free card. Although the dressing down you get from the shaykh may be worse than prison.

I don't know what they're thinking, they're from the Arab tribe Bani Ma'roof so they're definitely Arab. The ones who denied that are in denial.

Enjoyed watching this video… being Polish living in USA always curious about other religions and cultures especially those in middle east/ Israel… Druze is new subject for me … very friendly nice people who live in Israel identify as Arabs having own religion… wow!!!!!