DRUSE SOLDIERS MARCHING ALONG ROAD; PEOPLE WATCH; SOLDIERS ENTER VILLAGE; SOLDIERS DANCING (NATURAL SOUND)




Initials RGH/VS/CCT/LMC



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: AN ISRAELI UNIT OF DRUSE SOLDIERS THIS WEEK MARCHED TO THE VILLAGE OF MAHDAL SHANS ON THE SLOPES OF MOUNT HERMON IN ISRAELI-OCCUPIED SYRIAN TERRITORY AND MET FOR THE FIRST TIME SYRIAN MEMBERS OF THEIR RELIGION.

THE TROOPS HAS JUST ENDED THREE DAYS OF HEAVY EXERCISES IN THE GOLAN HEIGHTS, CAPTURED BY THE ISRAELIS DURING THE JUNE WAR. MAHDAL SHANS IS INSIDE CAPTURED TERRITORY.

DRUSES ARE ADHERENTS OF AN ESOTERIC RELIGION FOUNDED IN THE 11TH CENTURY BY THE FATIMID CALIPH OF EGYPT, AL-HAKIM, WHO PROCLAIMED HIMSELF AN INCARNATION OF GOD. DRUSES TAKE THEIR NAME FROM HIS MISSIONARY WHO PREACHED THE CULT OF AL-HAKIM AMONG THE SYRIANS.

IN ALL, THERE ARE SOME 15,000 DRUSES IN ISRAEL, AND MANY ARE WITH THE ISRAEL DEFENCE FORCES. THEY SPEAK ARABIC BUT THEY'RE NOT A MOSLEM RELIGION. BUT MOST DRUSES TODAY LIVE IN SYRIA.

THE ISRAELI TROOPS ENTERED MAHDAL SHANS SINGING AND LATER DANCED IN THE VILLAGE SQUARE.