US Rep. Abraham Hamadeh (R-Arizona) met with Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, the spiritual leader of Israel’s Druze community, last Thursday for a briefing on regional security, the Druze role in Israeli society, and recent attacks on Druze in Syria.
The meeting addressed last month’s massacre of Druze civilians in Syria, which included the killing of an American citizen. Hamadeh, an Arab American, said efforts were under way with “partners and all parties” to ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need. Americans and other victims could be evacuated, he said.
Hamadeh, a former US military intelligence officer and strong supporter of the US-Israel alliance, expressed admiration for the Israeli Druze community’s long-standing role in the country’s defense. He also stressed the importance of deepening ties between American lawmakers and minority communities that “stand on the front lines against extremism.”
Hamadeh, who is of mixed Muslim and Druze heritage, has made multiple visits to Israel and has been outspoken in support of bolstering regional security partnerships. During a visit earlier this year, he toured the northern border and met with security officials to discuss threats from Hezbollah and Iran.
Hamadeh has also been active on cases involving Americans held abroad. Last year, he urged the Biden administration to intensify efforts to secure the release of Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Princeton University doctoral student and Israeli-Russian citizen who was abducted in Iraq in 2023. Tsurkov, who was conducting academic research, is believed to be held by the Iran-backed Shi’ite militia Kataib Hezbollah.
Hamadeh criticized what he described as a lack of urgency from the administration and said securing Tsurkov’s release should be a priority for US diplomacy.
Tarif's calls to ensure protection of Druze in Syria
Tarif, who has served as the Druze spiritual leader since 1993, is regarded as a unifying figure for some 150,000 Druze citizens of Israel. He has long advocated for the community’s integration in national life while preserving its religious traditions.
In recent weeks, Tarif has been vocal in urging international action to protect Druze in Syria after cross-border attacks by extremist groups. Following the massacre in the Syrian cities of Hadar and Sweida, which left dozens of Druze civilians dead, he called the killings “a crime against humanity” and appealed to the international community to intervene.
Tarif has visited the Golan Heights with other Druze leaders to express solidarity with the Druze community there and to coordinate support for Syrian Druze facing violence.